Clinical Impact of Appendiceal Morphology on Surgical Outcomes and Readmissions: Does Size Matter?

Background

While the severity of acute appendicitis is routinely evaluated, the significance of its morphological characteristics remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impacts of appendiceal dimensions.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients who underwent appendectomy. Data on demographics, appendiceal morphology, time from admission to surgery, postoperative complications, and readmission rates were analyzed. Statistical tests, including correlation analysis and multivariate regression, were used. p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Appendix diameter demonstrated positive correlations with age, complicated appendicitis, and surgery duration. Multivariate analysis showed that appendix diameter was found to be a significant predictor of readmission rates, regardless of clinical factors, and has a significant positive association with age in both univariate/multivariate analyses.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the significance of appendicular morphology in the prediction of readmission rates and the importance of age-specific diagnostic thresholds. The observed age-related changes may warrant re-evaluation of recent diagnostic criteria.