Abstract
Acute appendicitis is the most common gastrointestinal disease, but it is very difficult to select and operate only for suppurative appendicitis among many patients complaining of lower abdominal pain. Thus, we undertook retrospective investigation of the correlations between many indices, such as abdominal findings by palpation (Blumbergs sign, muscular defense), white blood cell counts, body temperature and operative findings concerning the appendix, in 358 patients who underwent appendectomy from 1980 to 1983.
1. Muscular defense was correlated with perforation, coated pus, and destruction of the appendiceal mucosa, and it was the most reliable indicator for surgery.
2. The incidence of postoperative wound infection was 2.8%, and almost all developed in patients who had undergone surgery for perforative appendicitis.
3. There were no differences in the postoperative wound infection rate despite the fact that many kinds of antibiotics were administered. Thus, when we undertake surgery for perforated appendicitis, we should treat the wound carefully during the operation in order to avoid infection.
