A review of appendicectomy in Sokoto, North-western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in developed countries. There is a strorng evidence of a rising trend in the developing world. METHODS: We present a retrospective review of appendicectomy as performed at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto over a six year period (January 1997 to December, 2002) RESULTS: The diagnosis of appendicitis was made in 38.9% of surgical abdominal emergencies. The peak age group was 20 to 29 years with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1. The negative appendicectomy rate was 15.9% There was associated Schistosoma haematobium in 4.44% of cases. Appendicectomy had a morbidity rate of 13.3% and a mortality of 0.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Appendicitis was the commonest surgical emergency in Sokoto. The negative appendicectomy, morbidity and mortality rates were within the range widely quoted in the literature. The need to avoid negative exploration is imperative in this poor community.