Early patient discharge following appendicectomy: safety and feasibility

One hundred and twenty patients with non-perforated acute appendicitis were discharged within 72 h of operation; 50 left hospital within 48 h of surgery. Criteria adopted for early discharge were: stable vital signs, active bowel sounds, ambulation and ability to tolerate fluid and food without discomfort. The patient's contact address was taken and every patient was requested to report to the out-patient department on the 7th post-operative day to remove stitches and assess the wound. There were three re-admissions. Five patients, however developed wound problems, three had wound infections, one had an indurated painful wound and the last developed erythema; the latter two patients were treated on an out-patient basis. Twenty patients were not happy about early discharge. Early discharge following appendicectomy is safe and can be practiced in uncomplicated cases of acute appendicitis.

History of surgery of the abdominal cavity. Arabic contributions

In-depth historical research is made on Arabic contributions to surgery of the abdominal cavity highlighting their specific achievements in laparotomy and caesarian section. Albucasis (936-1013) in his book "Al Tasrif" produced the first authentic description ever contained in the literature on surgery of the abdomen. He described methods of bowel reduction and abdominal wall closure. Albucasis used Arabian ant-nippers for intestinal anastomosis; he was the first to sew the intestine with fine suture extracted from animal's gut. The manuscript of Shahnama or "Book of Kings" written by Ferdowsi (1560-1580) (possessed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York), described the earliest caesarian section performed on Persian Rustam many centuries B.C. Edinburgh University Library has the manuscript entitled "Al-Athar Al-Baqiya An Alqurun Al-Khaliyah" by Al-Biruni (1307-1308); it revealed that section had probably been performed on living wives of Muslim Kings. Plates No. 65, 73, 81 and 82 illustrating Muslim Surgeons performing section were gathered from last two books by Brandenburg in 1982.