[Chronic appendicitis in children].

Starting from 1976 to 1983, a total of 114 children was submitted to surgery for chronic appendicitis. The 5 to 13 years postappendectomy results were evaluated in 105 patients. From them, 68 (64.8%) were without complaints, 27 (25.7%) showed the substantial improvement. Of any favourable effect were 3 postappendectomy children, i.e. 2.8%. In one case, a serious postoperative complication occurred, this resulting in the small intestine strangulative ileus 2 mos. after the appendectomy. Different and even contradictory views are discussed in regard with the properly existence, signs, diagnosis and management of chronic appendicitis. The authors estimate chronic appendicitis to be the clinical and by no means the pathologico-anatomical diagnosis. According to them, the children are indicated to the elective appendectomy after preliminary investigation which is focused on the exclusion of other serious diseases similar in subjective complaints.