Abstract
Background: Despite the recent advancements, negative appendectomy cases are notable, especially in children. We evaluated the prognostic value of serum fibrinogen level for the prediction of the severity of acute appendicitis.
 Methods: A cross-sectional study of children and adults who had undergone appendectomy at Ali Asghar and Rasool-e Akram hospitals, Iran, was performed. Before surgery, serum fibrinogen level was assessed by using the Clauss technique. Finally, serum fibrinogen was compared between the two groups of complicated acute appendicitis and uncomplicated ones.
 Results: In the adult's complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis, no significant differences were noted in gender distribution, WBC count, and segment levels. Serum fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels in children with complicated appendicitis were significantly higher than those in the uncomplicated ones. Serum fibrinogen level of 450 mg/dl was the optimum cut-off for predicting the severity of appendicitis in children. Serum fibrinogen level in adults with the complicated appendicitis was significantly higher than the uncomplicated appendicitis group. Also, 530 mg/dl was found the best serum fibrinogen cut-off to predict the severity of appendicitis in adults.
 Conclusion: Serum fibrinogen level is an appropriate diagnostic marker for the distinction of acute complicated appendicitis from uncomplicated appendicitis in children and adults.
Highlights
Acute appendicitis is the most common indication for emergency surgery that affects patients from various age groups
Laboratory tests along with clinical features and imaging findings can be beneficial for the diagnosis of appendicitis, whereas all the clinical and paraclinical variables have limited power to predict the necessity of appendectomy in acute appendicitis
72.5% (29 patients) of the children had uncomplicated appendicitis, while the others were diagnosed with complicated appendicitis
Summary
Acute appendicitis is the most common indication for emergency surgery that affects patients from various age groups. The incidence rates of appendicitis among men and women are respectively 8.6% and 6.7%. Despite all the improvements in imaging techniques, sensitive chemical markers, and scoring systems, inopportune appendectomy cases are notable. Laboratory tests along with clinical features and imaging findings can be beneficial for the diagnosis of appendicitis, whereas all the clinical and paraclinical variables have limited power to predict the necessity of appendectomy in acute appendicitis. It has been well known that serum fibrinogen is an inflammation mediator. Serum fibrinogen level usually increases in any inflammatory condition such as acute. Negative appendectomy cases are notable, especially in children. We evaluated the prognostic value of serum fibrinogen level for the prediction of the severity of acute appendicitis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
