Spectrum of postoperative complications and histopathological findings of appendectomy in Rehman Medical Institute from 2017-2018

Abstract

Introduction: Documentation of post-appendectomy complications along with histopathological findings help in clinical management of acute appendicitis.

Objective: To determine the postoperative complications occurring in appendectomy patients of a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, based on two-years archival data.

Materials & Methods: A descriptive study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, from January to February 2019 on 130 archival cases of appendectomies done from 2017-2018 to document postoperative complications and histopathological findings. Data were collected on a structured Performa consisted of demographic data, symptoms, complications, investigations performed, preoperative position of appendix, pathology and comorbidities. Descriptive data analysis was done with SPSS 25.0.

Results: The most common age group for acute appendicitis was 19 years (n=9, 6.9%) followed by 40 years (n=8, 6.2%); more patients were males (n=73, 56.15%) compared to females, (n=57, 43.85%). Patients presented with the common complaint of pain in right iliac fossa with nausea, (n=102, 78.5%), followed by generalized abdominal pain (n=20, 15.4%) and epigastric pain and vomiting (n=8, 6.2%). Retrocecal appendix was the most frequent site (75.4%); 52.3% of patients did not develop any postoperative complication.

Conclusion: Wound infection and pain were the commonest complications after surgery. Malignancy was rare.

Keywords: acute appendicitis, postoperative complications, histopathological finding, wound infection.