Immediate appendectomy for appendiceal mass

Abstract

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate thesafety and effectiveness of immediate appendectomy in patientspresenting with appendicular mass.methods: Forty-seven patients with appendicular mass were operatedwithin 24 hours after admission to Vakif Gureba Trainingand Research Hospital, General Surgery Department,from January 2004 to April 2010. The appendiceal masswas diagnosed with physical examination, abdominalultrasonography, and computed tomography, or duringsurgical exploration. Age and sex, duration of symptoms,physical examination findings at admission, operationdetails, intraoperative and postoperative complications,and length of hospital stay were analyzed for each patient.Results: There were 25 males (53.2%) and 22 females (46.8%),with a mean age of 37.23±15.60 (range: 14-75) years. Themean time from the onset of the symptoms to operation was4.06±2.50 (range: 1-15) days. A simple appendectomy wasperformed in 38 (80.9%) patients. Twenty-nine (61.8%)patients were discharged and followed up without anycomplication after surgery. Wound infection was detectedin 13 (27.7%) patients.Conclusion: Immediate appendectomy in appendicular mass is a safeand effective alternative to conservative management.