Table 1 Patient characteristics and comparison between uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis (n = 325)
Factors | All patients (n = 325) | Uncomplicated (n = 198) | Complicated (n = 127) | p values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Demographics | ||||
Age (years; mean ± SD) | 51.9 (19.6) | 48.6 (19.0) | 57.0 (19.6) | < 0.001 |
Age group (years) ≥ 45 | 196 (60.3%) | 106 (53.5%) | 90 (70.9%) | 0.003 |
Age group (years) ≥ 52 | 169 (52.0%) | 89 (44.9%) | 80 (63.0%) | 0.002 |
Age group (years; n, %) | 0.020 | |||
< 40 | 105 (32.3%) | 75 (37.9%) | 30 (23.6%) | |
40–59 | 88 (27.1%) | 52 (26.3%) | 36 (28.4%) | |
≥ 60 | 132 (40.6%) | 71 (35.9%) | 61 (48.0%) | |
Female (n, %) | 212 (65.2%) | 130 (65.7%) | 82 (64.6%) | 0.935 |
Body mass index (kg/m2; mean ± SD) | 24.0 (4.7) | 24.0 (4.8) | 24.0 (4.7) | 0.966 |
Durations (h; median, rangea) | ||||
Duration of symptoms | 24 (2–480) | 24 (2–240) | 36 (3–480) | < 0.001 |
Duration of symptoms (h) ≥ 48 | 105 (32.3%) | 42 (21.2%) | 63 (49.6%) | < 0.001 |
From arrival to CT | 5.2 (0.2–82.1) | 5.1 (0.2–27.5) | 5.3 (0.5–82.1) | 0.154 |
From CT to surgery | 4.0 (0.3–74.1) | 4.1 (0.4–74.1) | 3.5 (0.3–47.1) | 0.264 |
From arrival to surgery | 9.6 (3.0–87.6) | 9.5 (3.0–87.6) | 9.8 (3.4–52.5) | 0.364 |
From arrival to antibiotics | 6.5 (0–29.4) | 6.5 (0.5–29.4) | 6.5 (0–20.4) | 0.393 |
Symptoms and signs | ||||
Right lower quadrant pain (n; %) | 314 (96.6%) | 193 (97.5%) | 121 (95.3%) | 0.350 |
Body temperature (°C; mean ± SD) | 37.3 (0.8) | 37.2 (0.7) | 37.5 (0.9) | 0.001 |
Body temperature group (°C) | 0.001 | |||
≤ 37.0 | 166 (51.2%) | 113 (57.4%) | 53 (41.7%) | |
37.1–37.9 | 105 (32.4%) | 63 (32.0%) | 42 (33.1%) | |
≥ 38 | 53 (16.4%) | 21 (10.7%) | 32 (25.2%) | |
Body temperature group (°C) ≥ 37.4 | 106 (32.6%) | 60 (30.3%) | 46 (36.2%) | 0.323 |
Body temperature group (°C) ≥ 37.5 | 97 (29.8%) | 52 (26.3%) | 45 (35.4%) | 0.101 |
Rebound tenderness (n; %) | 162 (49.8%) | 95 (48.0%) | 67 (52.8%) | 0.468 |
Migratory pain (n; %) | 143 (44.0%) | 101 (51.0%) | 42 (33.1%) | 0.002 |
Anorexia (n; %) | 159 (48.9%) | 85 (42.9%) | 74 (58.3%) | 0.010 |
Nausea and vomiting (n; %) | 190 (58.5%) | 110 (55.6%) | 80 (63.0%) | 0.225 |
Laboratory values | ||||
White blood cell count (× 109 cells/L; mean ± SD) | 13.2 (3.0–29.2) | 12.8 (3.0–24.7) | 13.3 (3.9–29.2) | 0.328 |
White blood cell count group > 13 (× 109 cells/L) | 169 (52.0%) | 98 (49.5%) | 71 (55.9%) | 0.310 |
Neutrophil count (%; median, range) | 82.6 (21.0–96.7) | 81.2 (21.0–96.7) | 85.2 (28.6–95.2) | < 0.001 |
Neutrophil count ≥ 81% (n, %) | 200 (61.9%) | 109 (55.3%) | 91 (72.2%) | 0.003 |
Absolute neutrophil count (× 109 cells/L) | 10.6 (1.5–26.6) | 10.4 (1.5–22) | 11.3 (1.9–26.6) | 0.049 |
Leukocyte count (%; median, range) | 11 (1.0–94.6) | 11.4 (1.0–94.6) | 10.0 (1.6–51.0) | 0.003 |
Neutrophil-to-leukocyte ratio (median, range) | 7.5 (0.04–71.7) | 7.1 (0.04–71.7) | 8.2 (0.8–59.6) | 0.007 |
Neutrophil-to-leukocyte ratio > 10 (n, %) | 104 (32.2%) | 59 (29.9%) | 45 (35.7%) | 0.337 |
Alvarado score (median, range) | 7 (1–10) | 7 (2–10) | 7 (1–10) | 0.275 |
CT findings | ||||
Appendix diameter (mm; mean ± SD) | 12.0 (2.9) | 11.2 (6–21.1) | 13 (8.6–26.8) | < 0.001 |
Appendix diameter > 10 mm | 245 (75.4%) | 134 (67.7%) | 111 (87.4%) | < 0.001 |
Appendix diameter ≥ 14 mm | 77 (23.7%) | 34 (17.2%) | 43 (33.9%) | < 0.001 |
Appendicolith (n, %) | 134 (41.2%) | 58 (29.3%) | 76 (59.8%) | < 0.001 |
Obstructive appendicolith (n, % of appendicolith) (n = 136) | 88 (64.7%) | 37 (61.7%) | 51 (67.1%) | 0.632 |
Number of appendicolith (n; median, range) | 0 (0–8) | 0 (0–6) | 1 (0–8) | 0.7178 |
Location of appendicolith (n, %) (n = 134) | 0.399 | |||
Proximal | 86 (64.2%) | 36 (62.1%) | 50 (65.8%) | |
Mid | 28 (20.9%) | 15 (25.9%) | 13 (17.1%) | |
Distal | 20 (14.9%) | 7 (12.1%) | 13 (17.1%) | |
Contrast enhancement wall defect (n, %) | 148 (45.5%) | 66 (33.3%) | 82 (64.6%) | < 0.001 |
Periappendiceal fat stranding (n, %) | 152 (46.8%) | 62 (31.3%) | 90 (70.9%) | < 0.001 |
Periappendiceal fluid (n, %) | 138 (42.5%) | 49 (24.7%) | 89 (70.1%) | < 0.001 |
Abscess (n, %) | 42 (12.9%) | 22 (11.1%) | 20 (15.7%) | 0.295 |
Ascites (n, %) | 110 (33.8%) | 51 (25.8%) | 59 (46.5%) | < 0.001 |
Extraluminal air (n, %) | 47 (14.5%) | 2 (1.0%) | 45 (35.4%) | < 0.001 |
Treatment | ||||
Appendectomy at initial admission (n, %) | 316 (97.2%) | 192 (97.0%) | 124 (97.6%) | 1.000 |
Length of stay for initial admission (days; median, range) | 3 (1, 44) | 2 (1, 13) | 4 (1, 44) | < 0.001 |