Abstract: Appendicitis remains an intriguing disease entity, and there are severe unresolved postulations in the mind of clinicians worldwide. The primary concern is the likelihood of progression to perforation and the potential implications in contemporary African settings. A systematic review study has not been carried out for appendicitis research in Africa.
Aim: To examine the literature critically and to present an update on current controversies on acute appendicitis with some particular emphasis on contemporary African settings.
Method: A review of publications obtained from Medline search, medical libraries, and Google.
Results: Twenty-four audits were included in the quantitative analysis. Some were excluded from the subgroup analyses. Negative appendicectomies occurred at a rate of 18 % (488/3 862). Women were more likely to have a negative appendicectomy than men (32% versus 12%, p < 0.02). The perforation rate for appendicectomy patients was 28% (880/3 480), and the mortality rate was 3% (522/3 454). The current global research efforts are focused on the role of 'antibiotics' in the treatment and genetics of acute appendicitis
Conclusion: Appendicitis remains a significant health challenge in Africa due to the attendant high incidence of perforations and complications. The current trend suggests that a nonsurgical, antibiotic approach in the treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis may be beneficial but remains 'controversial' with very low acceptance in Africa. This article reviews the current 'state of the art' in the evaluation and management of appendicitis that is leading to stratified care for patients, mainly in contemporary African settings.
Keywords: Appendicitis; Appendicectomy; Pathophysiology; Contemporary African Setting; Trends.
Title: CURRENT TRENDS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN AFRICA: A CLINICAL REVIEW
Author: Alegbeleye Bamidele Johnson
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
