EJMS

Abstract

Background: Appendectomy remains one of the most common surgical procedures. However, there is few data on variant anatomy of the vermiform appendix in Egyptians. Aim of the work: It was to investigate position and length of the vermiform appendix in Egyptians. Patients and methods: Between June 2013 and 2015, we prospectively assessed vermiform appendix in 400 patients who underwent appendectomy at Al-Azhar and Al-Minia University hospitals. Patient age, gender, and vermiform characteristics (position, length and state of meso-appendix) were assessed and documented. Results: The length of appendix ranged from 3.10 to 13.0 cm with a mean of 8.04±1.95 cm; the most common position of appendix was retrocecal (38.8%), pelvic (32.3%), retroileal (14.0%); subcecal (8.0%); ectopic (5.3%) and preileal (1.8%); mesoappendix was complete in (81.0%) and incomplete in (19.0%). Males were significantly younger (15.91±8.55 years) than females (28.22±18.23 years). The length of appendix was significantly longer in males when compared to females (8.27±1.69 vs 7.36±2.46 cm). There was significant difference between males and females as regard to the position of the appendix; in males, retrocecal position was the most common (40.3%), while pelvic position was the most common in females (37.0%). Cases younger than or equal to 30 years had significantly shorter appendix (7.77±1.86 vs 9.72±1.59 cm, respectively). In addition, incomplete mesoappendix was significantly longer in younger cases (21.9% vs 1.8%, respectively). Conclusion: Results of the present study shed light on morphometry of vermiform appendix in Egyptian subjects and retrocecal position was the most common followed by pelvic position.