The effectiveness of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis Score in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in elderly patients

Abstract

Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common cause of acute abdominal surgeries, accounting for 15% of all emergency visits due to acute abdominal pain in patients aged over 60 years. Appendicitis is reported as the third most common cause of abdominal surgery in geriatric patients. In this current retrospective study, the records of 68 patients aged over 65 years, who were treated by surgical resection in our clinic diagnosed for AA between February 2015 and February 2020, were analyzed. The age, gender, duration of hospital stay of the patients and, histopathological results of appendectomy specimens were recorded. The Raja Isteri Pengrian Anak Saleha Appendicitis (RIPASA) Score of the patients was calculated according to the clinical history, physical examination, and laboratory parameters of the patients. According to the RIPASA scores, the patients were divided into three groups as the low-score group (4 to 7), the intermediate-score group (7.5 to 11.5), and the high-score group (≥ 12). The groups were compared on the basis of the microscopic diagnosis. According to the calculated RIPASA score, there were 12 patients in the low-score group, 44 patients in the intermediate-score group, and 12 patients in the high-score group. When the results were classified based on the pathology, we detected non-complicated conditions such as a normal appendix or reactive lymphoid hyperplasia in ten patients and catarrhal stage appendicitis in 38 patients along with complicated (gangrenous or perforated) appendicitis in 20 patients. In conclusion, the RIPASA score can be used in elderly patients considering its high accuracy rate. In elderly patients with a high RIPASA score, the pathological stage of the appendectomy specimen may also be complicated (perforated or gangrenous) appendicitis. Therefore, the mortality and morbidity rates may increase with increased complication rates.