1241 Complications in Negative Appendicectomy in Order to Aid Risk- Benefit Counselling: A Single Centre Study

Background Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency that affects 5.7-50 per 100, 000 a year in developed countries [1]. In the United Kingdom (UK), we have a high negative appendicectomy rate up to 15% [3][4]. Aim To establish the complication rate of negative appendicectomy in a District General Hospital. To identify the demographics of appendicectomy patients. Method A retrospective analysis of patient notes was performed on all patients who underwent an appendicectomy from: 09/01/2021- 22/12/2021. Results Patients who underwent an appendicectomy for any indication other than acute appendicitis and patients who had an incomplete set of notes were excluded. A total of 210 patients were included in the study. Of the patients included, 17% underwent a negative appendicectomy (NA) which resulted in 0% post-operative complications at 30 days. These NA patients were comprised of 70% females and 30% males. Positive appendicectomy patients had a complication rate of 8%. Therefore, the overall complication rate was 8%. Mortality rate was 0%. Operative findings differed compared to histology with 27% of all appendix’s appearing normal intra-operatively but 9% of all appendix’s resulting in normal histology. Male patients represented 59.5% of patients and 40.5% were female. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that though the NA rate was high, these patients did not have any recorded post-operative complications. Females represent highly in this group in keeping with current literature. The histology findings highlight the importance of clinical diagnosis. This study therefore validates current UK practice of appendicectomy as gold standard management and will aid risk-benefit counselling in prospective patients.