Perfil clínico-epidemiológico da apendicite aguda no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

The acute inflammatory abdomen is one of the main responsible for emergency services and acute appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal surgery in these cases. It is a frequent pathology with high morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical-epidemiological profile of acute appendicitis, based on a systematic literature review. METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive study, through a systematic literature review, which was based on scientific articles, magazines and books. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Acute appendicitis is a disease of high prevalence and about 7% of people in Western countries are affected by it each year. It has an incidence of approximately 48 cases per ten thousand inhabitants annually and reaches its apex in the second decade of life, affecting more men than women. Its main symptoms are colic in the periumbilical region, followed by anorexia, nausea and / or vomiting. Its prognosis depends on the precocity of the diagnosis, which is essentially clinical, and complemented by laboratory and imaging exams. The treatment is done from surgical procedure, appendectomy, associated with antibiotic therapy. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Based on the above assumptions, it is perceived that appendicitis is a frequent condition, despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. It is easily confused with other pathologies, which may hinder early diagnosis and consequently worsen the prognosis. It is perceived the necessity of studies at national level, in order to increase the knowledge about this pathology, and thus reduce the morbimortality of the disease and improve its prognosis.