Abstract

Background: Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain,
requiring surgical intervention. The present study was conducted to assess efficacy of
postoperative antibiotics after appendectomy in non- perforated appendicitis.
Materials & Methods: 76 patients undergoing appendectomy of both genders were
divided into 2 groups of 38 each. Group I patients were not given any postoperative
antibiotics and the group II patients received a single dose of cefuroxime sodium and
metronidazole, 8 hours postoperatively. Open appendectomy was performed by the
standard operating technique through right lower quadrant incision. Parameters such
as duration of symptoms, duration of surgery and hospital stay was recorded.
Results: There were 26 males and 12 females in group I and 20 males and18 females in
group II. Duration of symptoms was 1.9 days in group I and 1.4 days in group II,
duration of surgery was 52.3 minutes in group I and 54.8 minutes in group II. The mean
hospital stay was 2.31 days in group I and 2.42 days in group II and surgical site
infections was 10 days in group I and 5 days in group II. The difference was significant
(P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Both groups were comparable in terms of surgical site infection.