Clinical Characteristics of Acute Appendicitis in Kidney Transplant Recipients.
10.4285/jkstn.2009.23.3.233
- Author:
Han Hee LEE
1
;
Jung Jun LEE
;
Man Ki JU
;
Myoung Soo KIM
;
Kyu Ha HUH
;
Eyi Sang YOON
;
Dong Jin JOO
;
Soo Jin KIM
;
Soon Il KIM
;
Yu Seun KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ysms91@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Acute appendicitis;
Kidney transplantation;
Acute abdomen
- MeSH:
Abdomen, Acute;
Abdominal Pain;
Appendectomy;
Appendicitis;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Early Diagnosis;
Hospitalization;
Humans;
Incidence;
Kidney;
Kidney Transplantation;
Leukocytosis;
Male;
Medical Records;
Nausea;
Pancreatitis;
Prodromal Symptoms;
Rejection (Psychology);
Renal Insufficiency;
Retrospective Studies;
Transplants;
Vomiting
- From:The Journal of the Korean Society for Transplantation
2009;23(3):233-236
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is a common surgical disease. There are many problems for the early diagnosis of acute appendicitis in kidney transplant patients; differential diagnosis for acute rejection, limitation in imaging study, problems of immunosuppressant and non-characteristic symptoms. METHODS: We reviewed medical records and transplant database of 2,947 renal transplant patients between April, 1979 and September, 2009 retrospectively. Patient's characteristics, diagnostic methods for appendicitis and operative/postoperative progresses were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 2,947 renal transplant patients, there were 15 (0.51%, 13 males and 2 females) acute appendicitis patients. Mean age at the diagnosis of appendicitis was 37.2+/-10.1 years. Fourteen (93.3%) patients suffered from prodromal symptom, such as abdominal pain, direct or rebound tenderness, nausea and vomiting. There were 12 (80%) patients with leukocytosis (WBC count >10,000/microliter). Computed tomography scans were performed in 5 (33.4%) patients for diagnosis. Laparoscopic appendectomies were applied for 8 (53.4%) patients. In pathologic diagnosis, 2 cases were reported as 'non pathologic diagnosis' complications occurred in 2 patients as remnant appendicitis and pancreatitis. However, there was no patient with mortality and renal failure during the hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences between the transplant patients and the general population in the incidence, clinical features, diagnosis and postoperative progresses of acute appendicitis.
