Abstract
Introduction: There has been a large increase in emergency surgery
for appendicitis in Limerick University Hospital since surgical services were reconfigured in the Mid-West area in 2009.
Aim: We sought to determine the magnitude of the increase in
appendicectomy following reconfiguration. We also sought to
examine length of stay (LOS) and the negative appendicectomy rate.
Method: Data on all patients who underwent appendicectomy
between January and July 2007 were compared with corresponding
data relating to the period from January to July 2011. The number of
operations, types of operations, LOS and rates of negative histology
specimens were compared. Students t test for unpaired data was used
to compare means. The Chi-Square test was used to compare categorical variables.
Results: 125 appendicectomies (48 laparoscopic (38 %)) were performed in the 2007 group of which 32 specimens (25.6 %) were
histologically negative. 319 appendicectomies (238 laparoscopic
(75 %)) were performed in the 2011 group of which 62 specimens
(19.4 %) were histologically negative. The increase in numbers of
laparoscopic procedures was significant (p\0.0001). The reduction in the negative appendicectomy rate was not statistically
significant (p = 0.15) Mean LOS for the 2007 and 2011 groups
were 4.94 days and 3.16 days which was significant (p\0.0001).
Overall mean LOS for patients who underwent laparoscopic and
open procedures were 3.54 and 3.92 days which was not significant
(p = 0.11) Conclusion: While reconfiguration of surgical services has resulted in
a significant increase in appendicectomy, the length of stay and
negative appendicectomy rates have decreased.
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | XXXVIIth Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2012 |
Authors (Note for portal: view the doc link for the full list of authors)
- Authors
- Healy, D; McCartan, D; Aziz, A; Grace, P; Coffey, JC; Walsh S