English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis is one of the commonest causes of pain abdomen. Appendicitis has a good prognosis but a delay in diagnosis may result in risk of perforation, peritonitis, abscess formation, sepsis, and even death. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted from December 2019 to April 2020 in MVJ Medical College and the pre-operative ultrasonographic images of all the patients who underwent surgery for suspected acute appendicitis were reviewed. A total of 50 such cases were found and included in the study. The direct signs were enlarged appendix, hyperaemia of wall of appendix, non-compressibility and appendicolith. The indirect signs were increased echogenicity and thickening of mesenteric fat in right iliac fossa (RIF), increased vascularity in RIF, thickening of caecal wall, RIF probe tenderness, free fluid in the RIF and mesenteric lymphadenopathy. RESULTS 32 (64 %) were in the adult age group and 18 (36 %) patients were in the paediatric age group (below 18 years); the mean age was 38 years. 68 % (34) of the study population were males and 32 % (16) were females. At least one direct sign was present in 86 % of the cases, 2 and 3 direct signs were seen in 80 % and 56 % of the cases respectively. At least 1 indirect sign was noted in 97 % of the cases, 2 and 3 indirect signs were seen in 90 % and 70 % of the cases respectively. 2 cases had no indirect signs and all indirect signs were present in none of the cases studied. In the absence of direct signs, RIF probe tenderness (98 %) and increased echogenicity & thickness of mesenteric fat in RIF (86 %) were the most noted indirect signs in acute appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS There was a high incidence of indirect ultrasonography (USG) signs, of which the sign with maximum incidence was probe tenderness in 98 % of the cases, and increased mesenteric fat echogenicity in the RIF in 86 %. Among direct signs of acute appendicitis enlarged appendix (95 %) had the highest incidence followed by non-compressibility of appendix (90 %). KEYWORDS Acute Appendicitis, Ultrasound