A retrospective study was conducted to find out the frequency of acute appendicitis in patients presenting with abdominal pain in the surgical emergency department of Holy Family Hospital in one year i.e. 1999. A total of 3,181 patients presented in the emergency with abdominal pain and 432 of them underwent operation for acute appendicitis. Acute appendicitis was found in 326 patients, perforated appendix was found in 51 patients and normal appendix was found in 55 patients. Negative appendicectomy rate was 13%.