Comparison of ileocecal resection and right hemicolectomy in the surgical treatment of complicated appendicitis

BACKGROUND: Simple appendectomy with a complicated appendicitis diagnosis could prove difficult, sometimes requiring extended resection. Hence, we aimed to compare two procedures that are preferred for extended resection, ileocecal resection, and right hemicolectomy, in terms of patients’ demographic data, preoperative laboratory values (white blood cell [WBC], Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [N/L], C-reactive protein [CRP]), operation times, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and 1-month mortality rates. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent extended resection with the diagnosis of complicated appendicitis in our clinic from February 2015 to December 2020. We divided the patients into two groups those who underwent right hemicolectomy and those who underwent ileocecal resection. RESULTS: Among the 55 patients who underwent extended resection with the diagnosis of complicated appendicitis, 32 (58.1%) underwent right hemicolectomy and 23 underwent ileocecal resection (41.8%). The groups did not differ statistically significantly in terms of demographic characteristics, preoperative laboratory values (WBC, N/L, CRP), Clavien–Dindo classification scores, mean hospital stay, or 1-month mortality rates (p>0.005). However, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of operation time (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Ileocecal resection is a safe procedure for patients diagnosed with complicated appendicitis who are scheduled for extended resection.