Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical cause of acute abdomen necessating surgical intervention. Prophylactic drainage is commonly used in surgical practice, as in acute perforated appendicitis.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the advantages & disadvantages of the prophylactic drainage after appendectomy for acute perforated appendicitis.
METHODS:
Eighty four patients of acute perforated appendicitis were enrolled in this prospective comparative study done in Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital from October 2009 to March 2011. They were divided into two groups; 46 patients (54.76%) drainage group & 38 patients (46.24%) non-drainage group. Hospital stay time & postoperative wound infection were assessed in both groups. Statistical analysis using Minitab software version 14 to calculate the P value was done.
RESULTS:
Patients’ age ranged from 6-50 years (mean27±12), male:female ratio was 2.6:1. The incidence of perforation in acute appendicitis was 15.9% irrelevant to age or sex. Mean hospital stay time was 36 hours in the non-drainage group & mean of 58±4 in the drained group. Wound infection was 39.13% in the drainage group & 36.84% in the non-drainage group, with a P value was >0.05.
CONCLUSION:
postoperative wound infection & hospital stay were less in the non-drainage group for this prophylactic drainage should be reconsidered