Observations relating to the pattern of acute appendicitis in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

This prospective study examines clinical and operative findings in two population groups of patients who underwent acute appendicectomy at the King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh. Of the group of 100 Saudi patients, 77% presented with colicky pain, vomiting being an associated symptom in 59%, and 86% showed retrocaecal appendicitis. 80% of the group of 100 non-Saudi patients complained of colicky pain, with vomiting a feature in 61% but the appendix was shown to be retrocaecal in only 47%. Raised leucocyte counts were consistent with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Peritonitis was a finding in 5% of all patients, and the postoperative wound infection rate was 7.5%. The overall 'white' appendicectomy rate was 4.5%