G. Ahlberg et al., MECHANICAL SMALL-BOWEL OBSTRUCTION AFTER CONVENTIONAL APPENDECTOMY INCHILDREN, European journal of pediatric surgery, 7(1), 1997, pp. 13-15
During the period May 1988 to August 1990, 871 children aged between 0
and 15 years were appendectomized by laparotomy because of suspected
appendicitis at the department of pediatric surgery, St. Goran's Child
ren's Hospital. The children were followed 4-6 years after appendectom
y. 1.3 % (10/791) developed clinical symptoms consistent with mechanic
al small bowel obstruction (SBO) resulting in relaparotomy and confirm
ation of the diagnosis. The patients were divided into subgroups accor
ding to the degree of appendicitis. In the group with normal appendix
1.8% (3/170) developed mechanical SBO, simple appendicitis 0% (0/209),
gangrenous appendicitis 0.4% (1/236) and perforated appendicitis 3.4%
(6/176). There was no mortality due to postoperative complications. T
wo patients died due to unrelated causes during the follow-up period.