ARTICOLI ORIGINALI   

Chirurgia 2006 June;19(3):207-9

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Familial mediterranean fever in Greece: surgical interventions before establishing the diagnosis

Nikiteas N. ¹, Kanta A. ², Tsigris C. ³, Giannopoulos A. ³, Marinos G. ³, Andreopoulos A. ², Konstantopoulos K. ²

¹ Second Teaching Department of Surgery Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece 2 First Department of Internal Medicine Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece 3 First Department of Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

Aim. Acute abdomen crisis is a cardinal feature in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Many sufferers are subjected to emergency operations that prove unnecessary. This unnecessary surgery is a well recognized problem of the disease.
Methods. We evaluated the extent and frequency of surgical interventions in FMF cases before establishing diagnosis. The records of FMF cases diagnosed and/or followed up in our hospital were reviewed.
Results. In a total of 68 FMF cases, 32 were operated before diagnosis. Most cases were subjected to appendectomy. Some were repeatedly operated for other presumptive reasons (8 were twice operated; 4 were operated three times). After establishment of diagnosis, no more operations were encountered.
Conclusions. It seems that operations are less frequent after FMF diagnosis has been established. Training of surgeons to FMF-related problems may optimize clinical skills and medical judgment in relevant situations.