PREVALENCE OF ATYPICAL CECAL APPENDECTOMY SURGERIES IN CHILDREN AT A REFERENCE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Symptoms of appendicitis include intense abdominal pain, especially in the lower right side, nausea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite; however, in children these symptoms may not occur, hindering early identification and the need for surgery, which represents a significant public health problem contributing to increased morbidity and mortality related to lack of diagnosis. This study aims to describe the prevalence of surgeries for acute appendicitis in children at a reference hospital in the state of Paraíba. This is a descriptive exploratory study on the prevalence of atypical acute appendicitis and appendectomies in children aged 0 to 15 years, treated at the Dom Luiz Gonzaga Fernandes Emergency and Trauma Hospital, located in the state of Paraíba. The sample consisted of 325 children. The study was approved on the Brasil platform, under CAAE: 7221255, through the analysis of demands related to acute appendectomies in children at the aforementioned hospital. The results point out that, among the children admitted for appendectomy, 30% presented with atypical acute appendicitis, with late diagnosis. These findings point to the need for professional training and the implementation of clinical protocols that favor early and accurate diagnosis of the disease. The conclusion of this study is that atypical acute appendicitis in children has a high prevalence, and in 30% of cases the diagnosis occurs late, contributing to the high associated morbidity and mortality rate, corroborating the important public health problem and the need for further studies related to the issue.