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RACS ASC 2024

Incidence of Small Bowel Obstruction Post-Appendicectomy: 10-year experience.

Verbal Presentation

Verbal Presentation

4:45 pm

09 May 2024

Dobson 3

RESEARCH PAPERS

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Institution: Starship Hospital - Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

Purpose: Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO) is a possible complication after appendicectomy. If not settled with conservative management, it may require surgical intervention (SI). We reviewed the incidence of SBO requiring SI at our centre. Methodology: A 10-year retrospective analysis was undertaken of patients aged <15 years undergoing appendicectomy at Starship Hospital from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2022. All patients managed with appendicectomy were identified and those with initial length of stay (LOS) of more than 5 days or requiring readmission were analyzed further. Only patients requiring SI for their SBO were included in the final analysis. Results: A total of 2653 patients were managed with appendicectomy at Starship Hospital during the study period; 661 patients were identified with LOS >5 days or readmission. Surgical management of SBO was required in 26 patients (0.98%). This group had a median age of 8.5 years (2-14 years) and a male predominance (76.9%). Appendicectomy was performed laparoscopically in 22 (84.6%) and open in 4 patients (15.4%). Average follow-up was 7.4 years (2.3-10.5 years). Twenty-three patients (88.5%) had perforated appendicitis with 19 patients (73%) having contamination not limited to right iliac fossa. Average length of stay at index admission was 16.7 days (2.2-37.1 days) with 18 patients (69%) requiring SI during this admission. Median time between appendicectomy and SI for SBO was 9 days (3 days-6.3 years). Operative findings were adhesions (24, [92%]) and adhesions with infection/abscess (2, [8%]). Conclusion: The incidence of SBO requiring SI post-appendicectomy is low at 1%. It has a strong association with perforated appendicitis and can lead to prolonged length of stay.

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Dr Jaspreet Singh - , Dr Shareena Lala - , Dr Vipul Upadhyay -