Are there reliable indicators predicting post-operative complications in acute appendicitis?

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To clarify the predictors of post-operative complications of pediatric acute appendicitis. METHODS: The medical records of 485 patients with acute appendicitis operated on between January 2006 and November 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Age, sex, preoperative WBC, CRP, and appendix maximum short diameter on diagnostic imaging (AMSD) were compared retrospectively with the complications group (Group C) vs the non-complication group (Group NC) by Student's T test, Fisher exact test and Multivariate analysis. Regression analysis with p less than 0.01 was considered significant. We analyzed the most recent 314 laparoscopic appendectomy patients similarly. RESULTS: Complications were found in 29 of the 485 appendectomies (6.0%). Comparing Group C to Group NC, preoperative WBC (×10(3)/µl) 16.4 ± 5.6 vs 14.1 ± 4.1 (p < 0.01), CRP (mg/dl) 8.3 ± 7.1 vs 3.3 ± 4.6 (p < 0.01), AMSD (mm) was 12.1 ± 3.7 vs 9.9 ± 2.8 (p < 0.01). The CRP was significantly different by Multivariate analysis, but the WBC and AMSD wasn't. The results following laparoscopic appendicectomy data were identical. CONCLUSION: Preoperative WBC, CPR and AMSD all indicated an increased risk of complications. If WBC (/µl) >16,500, CRP >3.1 mg/dl and AMSD >11.4 mm, complications increased sixfold.