Post appendectomy small bowel obstruction

Authors

• Gamal A. Khairy, Assistant Professor and Consultant General Surgeon, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 7805, Riyadh 11472, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Fax. +966 (1) 4679493. Tel. +966 (1) 4671586. E-mail: gkhairy{at}ksu.edu.sa
• Mohammad F. Afzal, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Khalid R. Murshid, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Salman Guraya, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Alaa Ghallab, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative small bowel obstruction is one of the adverse effects of appendectomy but its frequency varies from center to other. This study was conducted to determine the incidence of this complication among our patients who had appendectomy and identify the factors which may increase the risk. METHODS: Case notes of patients who underwent appendectomy from January 1998 to December 2003 in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were reviewed. Patients readmitted for adhesive small bowel obstruction were traced and their clinical data were analyzed. RESULTS: Six hundred and seven patients were eligible for the study. Six patients (1%) developed intestinal obstruction. Frequency of readmission of patients with features of intestinal obstruction ranged from 1-6 (mean of 2 times). CONCLUSION: The incidence of small bowel obstruction after appendectomy is low. The main risk factors were reviewed and measures to avoid them were suggested.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

1058

Last Page

1060

Recommended Citation

Khairy, Gamal A.; Afzal, Mohammad F.; Murshid, Khalid R.; Guraya, Salman; and Ghallab, Alaa (2005) "Post appendectomy small bowel obstruction," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 26: Iss. 7, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.3031