Does Loss of Appetite in Acute Appendicitis Indicate an Empty Stomach?

Aim: Loss of appetite (anorexia) is a prevalent symptom in patients with acute appendicitis. In these cases, it can be hypothesized that the stomach is empty, and the gallbladder is contracted due to loss of appetite. In this study, we aimed to investigate gastric fullness and gallbladder status in patients with acute appendicitis. We investigated whether these parameters can be indirectly supported by imaging findings of anorexia and to what extent they are significant in terms of aspiration risk in emergency surgery planning. Material and Methods: CT images of patients with acute appendicitis and the control group were evaluated for gastric fullness and gallbladder appearance. Results: A total of 266 patients were included in the study. A hundred and thirty-nine patients (52.3%) were diagnosed with acute appendicitis, while 127 patients (47.7%) were classified as the control group. The proportion of patients with an empty stomach was statistically significantly higher in patients with acute appendicitis compared to the control group (p