Anomalies of the vermiform appendix and prevalence of acute appendicitis in Khartoum.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate certain anatomical features of the vermiform appendix and the prevalence of acute appendicitis among Sudanese citizens in Khartoum province. DESIGN: A prospective descriptive study of consecutive patients operated by a particular doctor. SETTING: Omdurman and Khartoum Teaching Hospitals from November 1995 to February 1996. INTERVENTION: Appendicectomy and recording particular characteristics of the appendix. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (i) appendix position, (ii) variations of mesopharynx and (iii) length of appendix. RESULTS: Acute appendicitis was found to be more common in males than in females and among adults than children. The average length was 8.9 cm in males and 9.4 cms in females. The appendix was commonly found to be retrocaecal (58.3%) on pelvic (21.7%) or paracaecal (11.7%). Anomalies of the appendix were more common in children than adults and occurred in 47% of cases. CONCLUSION: Average length of the vermiform appendix was longer in females than in males. Ectopic positions such as left-sided appendix were not detected in this study.