Background: Cecal leak or disruption after appendectomy for complicated appendicitis is a consequence of severity of disease and is related to residual abscess cavity, inflammation, phlegmon, and nonviable intestine. In an attempt to improve results, we have begun to resect the cecum and other localized infected tissue in instances of complicated appendicitis in which the viability of the appendiceal base and adjacent cecum is questionable.
Study design: This is a prospective series of all patients who have undergone resectional therapy for complicated appendicitis in the last four years. Patients with other inflammatory conditions of the right colon have been specifically excluded.
Results: Seventeen patients have undergone resectional therapy for complicated appendicitis. Thirteen (76.5 percent) were men; the mean age was 42.4 years. The mean temperature and leukocyte count were 37.8 degrees C and 16.1 x 10(9) per L, respectively. These patients presented with a mean of 6.8 days of abdominal pain. Nine had a palpable abdominal mass, and all had tenderness in the right lower quadrant. In ten patients an abscess was encountered at operation. While the extent of the resection varied, it generally included the cecum, part of the right colon, and 5 to 7 cm of terminal ileum. Fourteen patients had a primary anastomosis, while the other three had the creation of an ileostomy. Complications were encountered in only two patients: one wound infection and one pulmonary embolus. There were no instances of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess, intestinal obstruction, or fecal fistula. All patients had a benign postoperative course and were discharged on the average of 9.9 days postoperatively. The ileostomies in three patients have been closed and no complications have occurred on follow-up examination.
Conclusions: We conclude that aggressive resectional therapy of the cecum during appendectomy in selected patients with complicated appendicitis is effective therapy and can be performed safely.