April 2026, Volume 4, Issue 4

Author

Arulselvan A, Babu S, Karthik Bhandary S and Sneha Daffodil A

Abstract

Introduction: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies in children and usually presents with characteristic clinical features, with diagnosis supported by laboratory parameters and imaging modalities such as abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scans. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted over a period of three years at Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, and included all children below 14 years of age who were diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent laparoscopic appendicectomy. Demographic details, clinical symptoms, laboratory investigations, radiological findings, operative findings, postoperative complications, and histopathological reports were analyzed. Results: A total of 246 children were included in the study. Right lower abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom, observed in 96.7% (238/246) of children, followed by nausea in 73% (179/246), vomiting in 69.9% (172/246), and fever in 57% (140/246). On abdominal examination, right iliac fossa tenderness was present in 91% (223/246) of patients, rebound tenderness in 83% (204/246), Blumberg's sign in 77% (189/246), and Cope's psoas test was positive in 29% (71/246) of cases. Laboratory investigations revealed leukocytosis in 79% (194/246) of patients. Conclusion: Acute appendicitis should be considered in children presenting with acute abdominal pain. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of careful clinical evaluation supported by appropriate laboratory and radiological investigations for early diagnosis and timely management, along with the need for standardized documentation in pediatric appendicitis.