Clinical significance of appendicoliths in elderly patients over eighty years old undergoing emergency appendectomy: A single-center retrospective study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the patients

Factor	n	%
All patients	122	100
Sex
Female	59	48.4
Male	63	51.6
Pain location
Periumbilical pain	31	25.4
Upper abdominal pain	22	18.0
Right lower abdominal pain	69	56.6
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea	42	34.4
Vomiting	29	23.8
Nausea + vomiting	42	34.4
Body temperature
< 38 °C	91	74.6
≥ 38 °C	31	25.4
WBC count
< 9.5 × 109/L	29	23.8
9.5-15 × 109/L	61	50.0
≥ 15 × 109/L	32	26.2
Percentage of neutrophils
< 90%	85	69.7
≥ 90%	37	30.3
Comorbidities
Diabetes	19	15.6
Hypertension	71	58.2
Coronary heart disease	36	29.5
Previous surgery
Rectal cancer surgery	3	2.6
Stomach surgery	2	1.6
Small intestine surgery	1	0.8
CT scan
Appendicolith	46	37.7

WBC: White blood cell; CT: Computed tomography.

Table 2 Surgery related factors of the patients

Factor	n	%
All patients	122	100
Surgery method
Laparoscopic appendectomy	101	82.8
Conversion to open appendectomy	15	12.3
Open appendectomy	6	4.9
Pathology
Acute simple appendicitis	6	4.9
Acute suppurative appendicitis	29	23.8
Acute gangrenous appendicitis	87	71.3
Appendiceal gangrene
Yes	87	71.3
No	35	28.7
Appendiceal perforation
Yes	68	55.7
No	54	44.3
Peri-appendiceal abscess
Yes	17	13.9
No	105	86.1
SSI
Superficial incisional SSI	6	4.9
Deep incisional SSI	2	1.6
Organ or space SSI	1	0.8
Postoperative pneumonia	7	5.7
Length of hospital stays, median (IQR) (days)	5.0 (4.0-7.0)

SSI: Surgical site infections; IQR: Interquartile range.

Table 3 Correlation between clinicopathological factors and appendicolith

Factor	Appendicolith		P value
	Yes	No
All patients	46	76
Age (years)1			0.961
< 84	22	36
≥ 84	24	40
Sex			0.157
Female	27	32
Male	19	44
Pain location			0.514
Periumbilical pain	9	22
Upper abdominal pain	9	13
Right lower abdominal pain	28	41
Nausea			0.265
Yes	13	29
No	33	47
Vomiting			0.977
Yes	11	18
No	35	58
Body temperature			0.155
< 38 °C	31	60
≥ 38 °C	15	16
WBC count			0.592
< 9.5 × 109/L	9	20
9.5-15 × 109/L	23	38
≥ 15 × 109/L	14	18
Percentage of neutrophils			0.405
< 90%	30	55
≥ 90%	16	21
Diabetes			0.667
Yes	8	11
No	38	65
Hypertension			0.770
Yes	26	45
No	20	31
Coronary heart disease			0.861
Yes	14	22
No	32	54

¹Split at median.

WBC: White blood cell.

Table 4 Correlation between surgical factors and appendicolith, n (%)

Factor	Appendicolith		P value
	Yes	No
Surgery method			0.013a
Laparoscopic appendectomy	44	57
Conversion to open appendectomy	1	14
Open appendectomy	1	5
Pathology			0.199
Acute simple appendicitis	1	5
Acute suppurative appendicitis	6	23
Acute gangrenous appendicitis	39	48
Appendiceal gangrene			0.010a
Yes	39	48
No	7	28
Appendiceal perforation			0.044a
Yes	31	37
No	15	39
Peri-appendiceal abscess			0.391
Yes	8	9
No	38	67
SSI			0.223
Superficial incisional SSI	4	2
Deep incisional SSI	1	1
Organ or space SSI	1	0
Postoperative pneumonia	4 (8.7)	3 (3.9)	0.274
Length of hospital stays, median (IQR) (d)	5.0 (4.0-7.0)	5.0 (4.0-7.5)	0.957

^aP < 0.05.

SSI: Surgical site infections; IQR: Interquartile range.