COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS: IMPACT OF DELAYED PRESENTATION -A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies in India1. Delay in presentation is a major factor contributing to increased disease severity and postoperative morbidity2. Aim: To evaluate the spectrum of complications of acute appendicitis and assess their association with delayed presentation. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study included 100 consecutive patients who underwent open appendectomy between January 2024 and June 2025 at Basaveshwar Teaching and General Hospital, Kalaburagi. Delayed presentation was defined as symptom duration-48 hours. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and independent t-test. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.