ABSTRACT 853

Abstract

Background and aims: Acute appendicitis is the most important cause of abdominal pain in children and the commonest that requires emergency surgery. Aims: We aim to evaluate and compare the ultrasonographic findings and pediatric appendicitis scoring (PAS) in diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods: Twentyfive patients between 2-18 ages who were admitted to emergency department with acute abdominal pain and thought to have acute appendicitis by history and physical examination were included in the study prospectively. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed for all patients. Pediatric appendicitis scoring was evaluated by one physician. Fifty two percent of patients (n=13) underwent surgery. Definitive diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made according to histopathological findings. Permission was received from the local ethics committee. Results: Fifty two percent of twenty-five patients underwent surgery with preliminary diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Intussusception was found in one patient surgically and 12 patients (48%) had acute appendicitis according to histopathological findings. Pediatric appendicitis scoring mean score was 5.5 (range 2-10) for all 25 patients and it was 8.0 (range 6-10) for the 12 patients who were diagnosed by histopathological study. In non-surgical group of patients the PAS mean score was 3.2 (range 2-5) and this results were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: Pediatric appendicitis scoring is a safety complementary method for evaluation of patients who have preliminary diagnosis of acute appendicitis in childhood but we need comprehensive studies that contain large number of patients.