TY - JOUR
T1 - Position and susceptibility to inflammation of vermiform appendix in Accra, Ghana
AU - Clegg-Lamptey, J. N.A.
AU - Armah, H.
AU - Naaeder, S. B.
AU - Adu-Aryee, N. A.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - Objectives: To determine the normal (non-inflamed) position of the vermiform appendix in Ghana and carry out a pilot study to test the hypothesis "The retrocaecal appendix is less prone to inflammation". Design: Retrospective autopsy study. Setting: The pathology department and the department of surgery theatres of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital in Accra, Ghana Subjects: Consecutive autopsies and inflamed appendices at appendicectomy. Deaths occurring from untreated appendicitis were excluded from the autopsy study. Conversely non-inflamed appendices and appendices from interval appendicectomy were excluded from the appendicitis study. Results: There were 1358 autopsies and 323 inflamed appendices. In the autopsy study the retrocaecal position was the most common (914 [67.3%]). Other positions were pelvic (294 [21.6%]), preileal (66 [4.9%]), postileal (51 [3.8%]) and paracaecal (33 [2.4%]). These positions were similar in males and females. The positions of 323 inflamed appendices were: retrocaecal (183 [56.7%]), pelvic (66 [20.4%]), preileal (20 [6.2%]), postileal (15 [4.6%]) and paracaecal (39 [12.1%]). Comparing the non-retrocaecal to the retrocaecal position by chi square, the non-retrocaecal position was more prone to inflammation (p<0.001). Conclusion: The position of the normal appendix in Ghana differs from Western literature. The retrocaecal position appears less prone to inflammation in Ghanaians.
AB - Objectives: To determine the normal (non-inflamed) position of the vermiform appendix in Ghana and carry out a pilot study to test the hypothesis "The retrocaecal appendix is less prone to inflammation". Design: Retrospective autopsy study. Setting: The pathology department and the department of surgery theatres of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital in Accra, Ghana Subjects: Consecutive autopsies and inflamed appendices at appendicectomy. Deaths occurring from untreated appendicitis were excluded from the autopsy study. Conversely non-inflamed appendices and appendices from interval appendicectomy were excluded from the appendicitis study. Results: There were 1358 autopsies and 323 inflamed appendices. In the autopsy study the retrocaecal position was the most common (914 [67.3%]). Other positions were pelvic (294 [21.6%]), preileal (66 [4.9%]), postileal (51 [3.8%]) and paracaecal (33 [2.4%]). These positions were similar in males and females. The positions of 323 inflamed appendices were: retrocaecal (183 [56.7%]), pelvic (66 [20.4%]), preileal (20 [6.2%]), postileal (15 [4.6%]) and paracaecal (39 [12.1%]). Comparing the non-retrocaecal to the retrocaecal position by chi square, the non-retrocaecal position was more prone to inflammation (p<0.001). Conclusion: The position of the normal appendix in Ghana differs from Western literature. The retrocaecal position appears less prone to inflammation in Ghanaians.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=35248819824&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 17685212
AN - SCOPUS:35248819824
SN - 0012-835X
VL - 83
SP - 670
EP - 678
JO - East African Medical Journal
JF - East African Medical Journal
IS - 12
ER -