Clinical Analysis of 42 Cases Who Underwent Colectomy for Suspected Acute Appendicitis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: When patients underwent emergency surgery for suspected appendicitis, colon resection could be performed at the time of the initial operation. The aim of this study was to evaluate 42 cases underwent colectomy for suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 42 patients underwent colectomy for suspected acute appendicitis was performed over the period from January 1997 to December 2003 at the department of surgery, Kangnam Sacred Heart hospital, Hallym university. RESULTS: The sex ratio were 1.21. The mean age was 37.7 years. Right lower quadrant pain was present in all patients. Nausea and vomiting occurred in 18 cases (42.8%). Preoperative fever was 11 cases (26.1%). Abdominal ultrasound was most commonly performed preoperatively. The operative findings showed cecal mass with pericecal abscess was 20 cases (47.5%) and cecal mass with inflammation, 11 cases (26.1%), etc. The pathologic findings showed cecal diverticular abscess was 18 cases (42.8%) and pericecal abscess, 9 cases (21.4%), periappendiceal abscess, 5 cases (11.9%), etc. Type of operation was ileocecectomy, 29 cases (69.04%), and right hemicolectomy, 12 cases (28.57%), and extended right hemicolectomy, 1 case. Postoperative complications developed in 12 cases (28.57%), but those were uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: When an unexpected and suspicious cecal mass was found at operation for suspected appendicitis, the resection of all clinically apparent disease including colectomy could be considered. So, the surgeon must be aware of the possibility of these condition and choose the appropriate treatment.