Postoperative Complications After Appendectomy

Clinical Value of Postoperative C-reactive Protein in the Detection of Complications After Open and Laparoscopic Appendectomy

The frequency of complications after appendectomy is about 9% . The predictive value of CRP as an indicator of postoperative complications has been addressed in a small number of studies. The aim of the present retrospective analysis was to determine whether postoperative CRP levels are a reliable predictor of postoperative complications.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Appendicitis

Detailed Description

Background: Acute appendicitis is a common emergency in general surgery. The frequency of complications after appendectomy is about 9% [9]. The predictive value of CRP as an indicator of postoperative complications has been addressed in a small number of studies. The aim of the present retrospective analysis was to determine whether postoperative CRP levels are a reliable predictor of postoperative complications.

Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study comprised 744 patients who had undergone open or laparoscopic appendectomy for clinically suspected appendicitis between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015 at the department of general and visceral surgery, Kepler University Hospital in Linz, Austria. Demographic data, the surgical technique, postoperative complications, histopathological findings, postoperative white blood counts, and C-reactive protein levels were evaluated.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 744

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Austria
  • Upper Austria
    • Linz, Upper Austria, Austria, 4020
      • Clinic for General and Visceral Surgery, Kepler University Clinic Linz

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 96 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

patients who had undergone open or laparoscopic appendectomy because of clinically suspected appendicitis between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015 at the department of general and visceral surgery, Kepler University Hospital in Linz, Austria

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinically suspected appendicitis between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015

Exclusion Criteria:

• an elective appendectomy as part of an oncological or gynecological operation tumor was found intraoperatively and required ileocecal resection or right hemicolectomy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Retrospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
open appendectomy; Patients were selected retrospectively on the basis of the documented MEL code (medical service code) of open appendectomy (AE)
laparoscopic appendectomy; Patients were selected retrospectively on the basis of the documented MEL code (medical service code) of open laparoscopic appendectomy (LSK AE)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
superficial wound infection	superficial wound infection in open and laparoscopic appendectomy	4 weeks postoperative

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
intraabdominal abscess	intraabdominal abscess in open and laparoscopic appendectomy	4 weeks postoperative
ileus	ileus in open and laparoscopic appendectomy	4 weeks postoperative

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kepler University Hospital
• Investigators: Study Director: Andreas Shamiyeh, MD, Clinic for General and Visceral Surgery, Kepler University Clinic Linz

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Barkhausen S, Wullstein C, Gross E. [Laparoscopic versus conventional appendectomy--a comparison with reference to early postoperative complications]. Zentralbl Chir. 1998;123(7):858-62. German.
• Izbicki JR, Knoefel WT, Wilker DK, Mandelkow HK, Muller K, Siebeck M, Schweiberer L. Accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis: a retrospective and prospective analysis of 686 patients. Eur J Surg. 1992 Apr;158(4):227-31.
• Kaya B, Sana B, Eris C, Karabulut K, Bat O, Kutanis R. The diagnostic value of D-dimer, procalcitonin and CRP in acute appendicitis. Int J Med Sci. 2012;9(10):909-15. doi: 10.7150/ijms.4733. Epub 2012 Nov 13.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 30, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): November 30, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 11, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 13, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): April 19, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 5, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Infections; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Gastroenteritis; Intestinal Diseases; Cecal Diseases; Intraabdominal Infections; Appendicitis
• Other Study ID Numbers: APPCO-017

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No