Hyperbilirubinemia is a Predictor of Gangrenous or Perforated Appendicitis

Abstract

Introduction: Acute appendicitis is the most common acute abdominal condition that requires surgical intervention in childhood. Patients with complicated appendicitis (CA) were reported to have elevated serum bilirubin or reduced serum sodium levels in several studies. Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to establish the role of hyperbilirubinemia as a predictive parameter for the prediction of either acute, or gangrenous/perforated appendicitis. Methods: The present descriptive type observational study was accomplished in Department of Surgery, Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh. Medical files of the patients, who underwent appendectomies between July 2015 and January 2016, were evaluated. Age, gender, preoperative white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), neutrophil percentage (NEU %), C-reactive protein (CRP), total/ direct/indirect bilirubin levels, and preoperative presentation & severity, complication of disease, outcome and postoperative hospital stay findings were recorded. The Fisher’s exact, Pearson’s χ2, ANOVA, and Kreskas–Wallis tests while logistic regression for multivariate analysis was performed. P value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant\ for this study. Result: 50 patients of more than 15 years old participated in this study. Histopathological examinations revealed normal appendix in 11 (22%) patients, non-complicated acute appendicitis in 18 (36%), and appendiceal gangrene/perforation in 21 (42 %) patients. WBC, NEU, NEU%, and CRP levels were found significantly elevated in cases of acute and gangrenous/perforated appendicitis (p < 0.01). Total and direct bilirubin levels were also significantly higher in patients with acute and gangrenous/perforated appendicitis (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis, higher levels of CRP were associated with 14 times, elevated total bilirubin levels were associated with five times, and elevated direct bilirubin levels were associated with 36 times greater risk ........