Frecuencia y características asociadas de apendicitis aguda en extremos de la vida (menores de 14 años y mayores de 65) en el Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga. Cuenca. Enero 2018 - enero 2020

Abstract

Introduction: Acute appendicitis is an important cause of acute surgical abdomen with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in kids and elderly who have hinder in diagnostic. Objective: To determine the frequency and identify the associated characteristics of acute appendicitis in ≤14 years old and ≥ 65 years old, at José Carrasco Arteaga Hospital. January 2018- January 2020. Methods and materials: A descriptive study with medical records of patients who meet the inclusion criteria. The data collected was analyzed with SPSS, the results were presented in dynamic tables. Results: We had 227 medical charts, 162 were patients ≤14 years old, 51.62% women; and 65 were patients ≥ 65 years old, 52.31% men. 100% presented abdominal pain and had surgery. In ≤14 years old, we found nausea in 83.95% p<0.05, fever in 56.75%, McBurney in 93,82% p<0.05, US was used in 158 children, and presented 126 alterations. We observed leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and PCR <0.05 in more than 70%, in both groups; the main surgical finding was appendicular obstruction 44.44% p<0.05. In ≥ 65 years old we had migratory pain in 44,61% and McBurney in 76.92% p<0.05, US was performed in 59, 46 with alterations, and CT in 9, all with alterations p<0.05, the main surgical finding were appendicular obstruction and peritonitis in 27,69% p<0.05. Conclusions: It was determined abdominal pain as an invariable symptom and all required surgical resolution. Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, McBurney, PCR and the use of CT were statistically significant. The main surgical findings were appendicular obstruction and peritonitis.