A comparative study on surgical site infection in cases of open and laparoscopic appendicectomy

Abstract

Background: Diagnosis of acute appendicitis is mostly based on clinical features pointing towards appendicitis. Several biochemical parameters, such as the white blood cell (WBC) count, and neutrophil percentage, are currently used to aid clinical diagnosis. Without immediate surgery, appendicitis may progress to perforation of the appendix. This study was carried out to determine rate of SSI in open versus laparoscopic appendicectomy for acute appendicitis and to identify independent risk factors for SSI.Methods: Appendicitis is a common cause of pain in right iliac fossa worldwide. The present study was carried out in the Department of General Surgery, Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, from August 2015 to July 2017. This study was conducted after the due clearance from Institutional Ethical committee. Total 132 patients admitted to the surgery ward with acute lower abdominal pain with clinical features of acute appendicitis on clinical examination, were studied prospectively.Results: In the present study, maximum patients were seen in less than 20 years of age and next commonest age group of presentation was 21-30 years. The male to female sex ratio was 1:1.3 in the laparoscopic appendectomy group while in the open appendectomy group was 1.81:1. The incidence of complicated intra-operative findings and mean white blood cell count was more in the open appendectomy group. The mean operative time, days for use of analgesics, time taken to return to soft diet and length of hospital stay for laparoscopic appendectomy group was less than the open appendectomy group. There were more cases of surgical site infection in the patients operated by open approach than laparoscopic approach.Conclusions: Wound class II versus III and NNIS index were found to be significantly associated with surgical site infection.