Assessment the Incidence, Pattern and Clinical Presentation of Acute Appendicitis at ATAT Hospital

Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the commonest surgical Emergency encountered in both children and adults. The life time risk of developing appendicitis in the USA is 8.6% for males and 6.7% for females with the highest incidence in the second and third decades. The incidence in the United Kingdom is about 52per 100,000 population (Mike, 2015; John, 2008 and Addis, 1990). It is relatively a rare disease in Africa. The incidence is estimated to be less than 9 per 100,000population in South Africa (Richard, 2014). The incidence of the disease is now thought to have increased in African populations which are probably due to the adoption of more western patterns of life. However few studies were done in Ethiopia A retrospective analysis was undertaken on 200 cases of acute appendicitis surgically managed at Yirgalem Hospital from January 1997 to December 1999. During this period the disease accounted for 27.9% of the operations for acute abdominal emergencies and for 1.1% of total hospital admissions. The overall mortality rate of 0.2-0.8% is attributed to the complications of the disease other than surgical interventions .the mortality rate rise above 20% in patients older than 70 years, primarily because of diagnostic and therapeutic delay. Objective: The study aims to assess the incidence, pattern and clinical presentation of acute appendicitis at ATAT Hospital, from december30-january12. Methodology: A retrospective cross sectional study will be conducted at ATAT hospital GURAGE zone surgical patients who were admitted to the surgical ward with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis from meskerem 2009- Pagume 2011E.C. The data will be conducted by reviewing records and data will be analyzed manually. Result: The result will be compared with other studies and will be presented using tables. During the two years of study a total of 342 emergency abdominal emergencies. There were 128 patients presenting at Atat Hospital with acute appendicitis. Out of these, the records of 114 (89.06%) patients were retrieved for analysis remaining cards couldn’t be traced. 8 (7.01%) Of patients had appendicular masses and were managed conservatively, While 106 (92.6%) had emergency surgery for acute appendicitis. Conclusion and Recommendation: Acute appendicitis is the most common cause among all emergency acute abdominal operations performed in Atat hospital. Efficient information, Education and communication strategy needs to be designed to increase the knowledge of the community about appendicitis. Further studies should be made concerning appendicitis during pregnancy.