Prevalence of Postoperative Unfavorable Outcome and Associated Factors in Patients with Appendicitis: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE: Appendicitis is surgical emergency that might need removal of the inflamed appendix. Unless treated, appendicular abscess, perforation, and even death might be the unfavorable outcomes. Hence, this study was aimed to investigate the unfavorable outcomes and associated factors among appendicitis operated patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 300 patients who operated for appendicitis from September 1 2019 to August 30 2020 were studied using a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data were collected by using a checklist. Epi-data and SPSS version 25 were used for data entry and analysis, respectively. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify independent factors. A p<0.05 was used to set the statistical significance of factors. RESULTS: Among 300 patients who were operated for acute appendicitis, 36 (12%) developed unfavorable outcomes. Though one death because of sepsis was recorded, wound infection was the main postoperative disorder. Female (AOR=0.49; 95% CI: 0.13–0.074), living outside the hospital setting (AOR= 0.49; 95% CI: 0.13–0.074), duration of illness before arrival at the hospital (1–3 days (AOR= 1.67; 95% CI: 1.34–8.37) and ≥4 days (AOR=5.38; 95% CI: 1.63–7.69)), more than 3 days hospital stay (AOR= 3.21; 95% CI: 2.06–8.10), and mass in the right lower quadrant (AOR= 6.01; 95% CI: 2.11–14.50) were the independent predictors of unfavorable outcomes of appendicitis treatment. CONCLUSION: In this study, unfavorable outcome of acute appendicitis was high. More than one-tenth of appendicitis cases developed unfavorable outcomes. Living outside the hospital setting area, long duration of illness before arrival at the Hospital, more than 3 days hospital stay, and mass in the right lower quadrant were the risk factors, while females were less likely to have unfavorable outcomes of appendicitis. Therefore, closely working with patients who have abdominal pain and increasing their awareness about acute appendicitis will improve the operation outcome.