Alterations of the preoperative coagulation profile in patients with acute appendicitis

Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) is usually associated with a systemic inflammatory response that often leads to activation of coagulation. However, limited data about coagulation changes in AA are available. Methods: Results of preoperative coagulation testing in 702 patients with confirmed AA and 697 patients undergoing minor elective surgery (control) during the same period were analyzed retrospectively. Coagulation activity of factors VII, IX (FVII:C, FIX:C) and the concentration of plasma endotoxin from 40 patients with AA and 15 control subjects were measured. Results: Compared with control subjects, prothrombin time (PT), fibrinogen (Fib) and endotoxin increased (all p