Early versus delayed operative management of appendicular mass

Background Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen. It may be either complicated or uncomplicated. Sometimes the acute inflammation of the appendix may be enclosed by the patient’s own defense mechanisms to form inflammatory phlegmon. Complicated appendicitis is a palpable appendiceal mass, phlegmon, or a localized abscess. A phlegmon is an inflammatory tumor consisting of the inflamed appendix, with the greater omentum and adjacent viscera. Aim of the Work To determine the preferred approach taken to the management of the appendicular mass, to compare between acute appendectomy and delayed surgical intervention for appendicular mass, and to determine patient outcome following appendectomy for appendicular mass. Material and Methods: Study A retrospective study. Study Setting The study has been conducted in Ain Shams University Hospital (El-Demerdash) and military hospitals in Cairo and Alexandria under supervision of thesis supervisors. Study Period The study retrospectively analyze data of patients diagnosed as appendicular mass between January 2017 and December 2017. Study Population: Inclusion Criteria Patients with acute abdomen, diagnosed as appendicular mass by clinical examination and imaging (US and CT). Exclusion Criteria Females with right ovarian problems. Cases with right ureteric stones. Cases of recurrence. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT did not confirm the mass. Results The present study was a descriptive, retrospective, study that included 20 patients diagnosed with appendicular mass attended to surgery clinics at El-Demerdash and Military hospitals between January 2017 and December 2017. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I including 10 patients started conservative treatment then received delayed appendectomy. Group II including 10 patients received early appendectomy. Conclusion In conclusion, early appendicectomy is a safe and superior option in patients with appendicular mass compared to delayed appendicectomy. The results indicate that early appendicectomy leads to shorter hospital stay and return to normal activities than delayed appendicectomy. Moreover, postoperative difficulties and complications were less following early appendicectomy. The early appendectomy appears to achieve more favorable outcomes in patients with more severe symptoms, high fever, and high inflammatory markers. Nonetheless, more studies are necessary to confirm our findings.

Management of Complicated Appendicitis in Al-Thawra Modern General Hospital Sana'a -Yemen from November 2019 to November 2020: علاج التهاب الزائدة الدودية المعقد

Background: Complicated appendicitis causes morbidity and mortality more than simple appendicitis. Complicated appendicitis includes appendicular mass, appendicular abscess, perforated appendicitis. Objective: To study presentation of complicated appendicitis regarding to age, sex and complain duration, also to study management of complicated appendicitis and his response to conservative management. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted in the department of general surgery at AL-Thawra hospital during the period from Nov 2019 to Nov2020. The data was collected using clinical examination and follow up, and was analyzed using SPSS 24. Results: A total of 57 patients diagnosed as complicated appendicitis, aged from 6 to 60 years were admitted, mean age was 28 years. Male to female ratio was 1.6:1. The complaint duration was more than 3 days in 34 cases (59%), total leucocytes count was >18 × 103 in 28 cases (49.1%). Twenty patients (35.1%) diagnosed as generalized peritonitis, 18 cases (31.6%) diagnosed as localized peritonitis, 14 patients (24.6%) diagnosed as appendicular mass, and 5 cases (8.8%) diagnosed as appendicular abscess. Forty cases (70.2%) underwent surgical intervention, whereas 17 cases (29.8%) improved with conservative management. Fifteen cases (37.5%) of operated patients underwent simple appendectomy and 13 cases (32.5%) underwent appendectomy with drain, and 12 cases (30%) underwent midline laparotomy. Most appendicular mass cases 12 (85.7%) were managed conservatively and 2 cases (14.3%) were operated. Three cases (60%) of appendicular abscess were aspirated, 2 cases (40%) were drained. Surgical site infection was 27.5% of operated cases. Conclusions: Complicated appendicitis can be suspected through clinical presentation, duration of complains and inflammatory response. Management of complicated appendicitis varies accordingly from conservative conventional to midline laparotomy.

Influence of Covid -19 on the management of Appendicitis

Objective: Acute Appendicitis encounters as the frequent problem in surgical pediatric patients leading to Appendectomy, being one of the most common procedures performed in surgical Emergency. During COVID-19 pandemic, the trends in the management of acute appendicitis have changed. Conservative management of appendicitis with antibiotics is being proposed as an alternative to conventional appendectomy. So, this study is conducted to compare the presentation and outcome of Appendicitis managed during pre and post pandemic period in our settings. Methodology: After approval of Ethical Review Committee, a total of 267 patients of age 1-12 years were selected for the study. It was a retrospective Cohort Study. Patients were divided into group A (n=145) which was pre pandemic group. Data was collected retrospectively from charts regarding demographics, presentation, duration of stay operative findings and complications from May-Oct 2019 and Group B (n=122) during covid-19 was collected from the patients presented with appendicitis over a period of six months from May-Oct 2020 . Similar months of the year were selected to remove seasonal variation in the presentation of Appendicitis. All information was collected on a predesigned Performa. Data was compared and analyzed on SPSS 20. Results: Out of 267 patients, 151 (56.56%) were male. Group A patients presented during pre-pandemic period (n=145) were undergone appendectomy for appendicitis in 129 patients (88.96%) with 59 patients (40.68%) having acutely inflamed appendix and 70 patients (48.27%) had complicated appendicitis such as gangrenous, perforated with generalized peritonitis. In Group A only 16 patients (11.03%) were managed conservatively for appendicular mass. In contrast to group B (n=122) presented during pandemic, only 43 patients (35.24%) were operated with findings of acutely inflamed appendicitis while gangrenous/perforated appendicitis with pelvic abscess and/or generalized peritonitis was found in most of the patients with a number of 69 (56.55%), only 10 (8.19%) patient presented as Appendicular mass hence managed conservatively. Conclusion: Delay in presentation and early conservative management during pandemic crisis has resulted in an increase in the complications of Appendicitis. Early referral to specialized centers with vigilant selection for conservative treatment can save patients from developing complications. Keywords: Appendicitis, covid-19, Appendectomy, complications, Pandemic

MUCOSECTOMY IN COMPLICATED APPENDICITIS

Objective: To describe the technique and results of mucosectomy; A surgical technique that is easy to perform, and has a lower morbidity and complication rate as compared to standard appendectomy in cases of complicated appendicitis. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Surgical - A Unit, Ayub Teaching Hospital, in Abbottabad, from Mar 2017 to Mar 2019. Methodology: Patients included were those who presented with appendicular mass, phlegmon, recurrent appendicitis, appendicitis in uncommon locations, presence of adhesions, those cases of appendicular mass and phlegmon which was either not responding to medical treatment, or diagnosed per operatively being clinically not palpable or not seen on ultrasound. Per operative and post-operative variables were documented and analyzed. In mucosectomy, thesubserosal portion of the appendix i-emuscularis and mucosa of the appendix was dissected out from the serosa after ligation of the appendicular base, or ligation done after delivering the appendix out of the serosa. The serosa that was adherent to the surrounding gut, omentum or other viscera was left intact. Results: A total of 192 patients were included in this study, half of which underwent standard appendectomy and a mucosectomy was performed on the rest. The mean time of surgery was 30 ± 1.2min as compared to the standard appendectomy group (55min ± 3.6). More than half of the patients undergoing standard appendectomy required extension of the incision (56.2%), only 8% required so from those on whom mucosectomy was performed. Per operative hemorrhage was seen in 32.2%, however inmucosectomy group only 1%.

A prospective study on appendicular mass

Background: The immediate management of appendicular mass have always been controversial. Early appendicectomy (within 72 hours of presentation) is preferred in some cases, while in others non operative conservative management is advocated. Usually successful conservative management (Ochsner Sherren regimen) is followed by interval appendicectomy (6-8 weeks later). This study determines the outcome of different modalities of intervention in patients with appendicular mass.Methods: A prospective study was conducted in Rajah Muthiah medical college hospital in department of general surgery from June 2018 to December 2020, in cases diagnosed to have appendicular mass. A total of 116 patients were included. After taking detailed history and clinical examination, relevant blood and radiological investigations, were done to achieve the final diagnosis. Presentation, examination findings, investigations, type of surgery, duration of surgery, post-operative complications and duration of hospital stay were studied. Data was collected, compiled, tabulated and analysed.Results: Conservative management followed by interval appendicectomy had lesser incidence of complications like Intraoperative adhesions, surgical site infection, wound dehiscence and enterocutaneous fistula. It also had relatively lesser operative time and lesser period of hospital stay.Conclusions: On comparing the different modalities of intervention, conservative management followed by interval appendicectomy is quite effective and safe method of treatment, with less operative difficulties and better outcome.

Functional autonomy and sarcopenia markers in women over 55 years of age

Introduction: Some parameters used to diagnose sarcopenia, and functional autonomy disorders can lead to interpretation and classification errors. Objective: to analyze sarcopenia markers and their relationship with the strength and gait of physically active older women aged between 55 and 76 years. Materials & Methods: Analytical observational study conducted in 178 physically active Colombian women who were distributed in two age groups (Group 1: 55-66 years, n=98, and Group 2: 67-76 years, n=80). A multiple linear regression model was used to establish possible correlations between strength and gait indicators (dependent variables) and body composition (independent variables). Results: In group 1 (G1) the fat mass and the appendicular mass (appendicular lean/height2(kg/m2)) explained the variance of the power in the lower limbs (SJ: p= 0.001, R2 =0.56; CMJ: p =0.001, R2 =0.51; CMJAS: R2 =0.60, P= 0.001). Similar results were observed in group 2 (G2) (SJ: R2=0.32, DW=2.14; CMJ: R2 = 0.51, DW=2.38; CMJAS: R2=0.41, DW=2.56). Furthermore, fat mass explained differently the variance in G1 and G2 regarding the gait pattern (G1: p=-0.006; R2=20%; G2: p =-0.001; R2=29%). Conclusion: The records of fat and appendicular mass allow studying negative changes in lower limb strength, and their effect on the gait pattern, as well as identifying the type of sarcopenia and functional autonomy disorders in Colombian physically active Colombian women aged 55 to 76 years.

Diagnostic Challenges in Right Iliac Fossa Mass Caused by a Fish Bone

Right iliac fossa (RIF) mass is a common condition seen by surgeons. Despite advances in diagnostic modalities, it remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, hence many authors describe RIF mass as temple of surprises. We report a challenging case of a 35-year-old man whopresented with a tender RIF mass. Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) scan abdomen were done and he was treated nonsurgically. His symptoms recurred after one month and a CT scan abdomen was repeated which revealed a suspicious foreign body within the appendicular mass. Laparotomy was performed which showed a macerated appendix with a 4-cm long fish bone within. The role of diagnostic tools in managing RIF mass and the treatment modality of appendicular mass are discussed. In managing RIF mass, a surgeon must be aware of thevarious differential diagnoses, but common diagnosis should always be entertained. Multi-modal diagnostic tools must be considered, including serial imaging in different planes. Keywords: Appendicitis, Right iliac fossa mass, Fish bone

A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN EARLY AND INTERVAL APPENDICECTOMY FOR APPENDICULAR MASS

Acute appendicitis remains the most common cause of acute abdomen requiring surgical intervention. Patients presenting late in acute appendicitis are complicated by the development of an inammatory mass in the right iliac fossa. The treatment of appendicular mass is controversial. However, 1 there are several other management options for appendicular mass. Traditionally, these patients are managed conservatively, followed by interval appendicectomy 4-6 weeks later. Advocates of the initial conservative approach claim a lower rate of complications compared to the early 2 operative approach. Objective: To study the safety and feasibility of emergency appendicectomy for appendicular mass by comparing the complications, morbidity and mortality with conservatively treated patients. Materials & Methods: This is a prospective and comparative study conducted at Gitam Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Visakhapatnam, from January 2018 to December 2019. A total of 60 patients with appendicular mass were divided into two groups of 30 each. Group I included patients who underwent emergency appendicectomy, while Group II consisted of patients who were managed conservatively. Results:In this study, patients' mean age was 27.58 yrs with a male to female ratio of 2.66:1. Intraoperative ndings in Group I - 20(70%) cases had simple mass, 8(26.66%) had adhesions and loculated pus in 2(6%). In Group II, 14(53.84%) patients had normal ndings, 4(15.38%) cases had simple mass, 6(23%) had adhesions, 1(3.84%) had loculated pus and adhesive intestinal obstruction. Postoperatively, In Group I, 3(10%) patients had wound infection, and 1(3.33%) patient developed fecal stula, which was managed conservatively. In Group II, 2(6.66) patients had wound infection, 4(13.33%) had failure of conservative treatment, four had lost follow-up, 3 had respiratory tract infection, and one patient developed intestinal obstruction due to adhesions. Mean length of hospital stay was 5.3 days in Group I and 8.5 days in Group II. Fewer complications, reduced number of days of parenteral medication, and reduced duration of total hospital stay were noted in Group I compared to Group II, indicating that emergency appendicectomy is a safe and feasible method of managing patients with appendicular mass.