Diagnosis Of Acute Appendicitis Research Articles

Poor Compliance to Clinical Guidelines in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis: Insights from a National Survey

Background: Many scoring systems, algorithms, and guidelines have been developed to aid in the evaluation and diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA). Many of these algorithms advocate against the routine use of radiological investigations when there is a high clinical suspicion of AA. However, there has been a significant rise in the use of imaging techniques for diagnosing AA in the past two decades. This is a national study aimed at assessing the adherence of residents assigned to the emergency department to the clinical guidelines for diagnosing AA. Methods: We introduced a case study of a male patient with highly suspicious clinical findings of AA to all surgical and emergency medicine residents assigned to the emergency department with the autonomy to make critical decisions to determine the preferred way of diagnosing AA. Results: A total of 62.4% of all relevant residents participated in this survey; 69.6% reported that the Alvarado score was eight or higher, and 82.1% estimated that the next step recommended by most clinical guidelines was appendectomy without further abdominal imaging tests. However, 83.4% chose to perform an imaging test to establish the diagnosis of AA. Conclusions: Our study revealed a notable non-adherence to clinical guidelines in diagnosing AA. Given the significance of these guidelines, we assert that adopting medical recommendations should not solely depend on individual education but should also be incorporated as a departmental policy.

Predictive values of indirect ultrasound signs for low risk of acute appendicitis in paediatric patients without visualisation of the appendix on ultrasound

Background and objectivesThe ability to rule appendicitis in or out using ultrasound is limited by studies where the appendix is not visualised. We determined whether the absence of indirect ultrasound...

The use of C-reactive protein to predict uncomplicated appendicitis and increase uptake of laparoscopy in low resource hospitals-A retrospective cohort study.

Acute appendicitis remains the most common surgical emergency worldwide. There has been a low uptake of laparoscopic appendicectomy in the South African public sector. Preoperative identification of cases of uncomplicated appendicitis that are amenable to a laparoscopic approach may facilitate the implementation of laparoscopic appendicectomy programs in training hospitals. With limited access to preoperative imaging, alternative strategies for this preoperative prediction are needed. A retrospective audit of patients over the age of 12years with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of acute appendicitis over a 5-year period was performed. Patients were categorized as uncomplicated or complicated appendicitis and C-reactive protein (CRP) and white cell count (WCC) reviewed. Receiver operating characteristics curves were constructed for these blood tests and acute appendicitis severity. Youden's J statistic was used to determine optimal cut off values for diagnosing complicated appendicitis. 358 patients had confirmed appendicitis and complete blood results. Of these, 189 (52.79%) had complicated appendicitis with a 40.22% perforation rate. Median CRP in uncomplicated and complicated groups were 68mg/L (IQR 19-142) and 216mg/L (IQR 103-313) with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.70-0.80). The median WCC in the two groups were 12.6×109 cells/L (IQR 9.9-15.6) and 14.4×109 cells/L (IQR 11.5-18.28) with an AUC of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.56-0.67). The optimal cut off value for CRP was found to be 110mg/L with a sensitivity of 74.74% and specificity of 69.23%. A cutoff value of 110mg/dl CRP can distinguish patients with early appendicitis from those with complicated disease and when used in conjunction with clinical assessment may help identify patients in whom laparoscopic appendicectomy is appropriate.

ВРОЖДЕННАЯ АНОМАЛИЯ ЧЕРВЕОБРАЗНОГО ОТРОСТКА, ОСЛОЖНИВШАЯСЯ АППЕНДИЦИТОМ

Congenital malformations of the appendix are an extremely rare pathology, do not have a specific clinical picture and are usually detected at the time of surgery or pathohistological examination of the removed appendix. The purpose of the study. To present a description of a rare pathology – a case of incomplete doubling of the appendix and its atypical location, which contributed to the development of chronic recurrent appendicitis and periappendicitis. Results. The patient, aged 19, was operated on with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Laparoscopy has revealed that the appendix is partially retracted into the inguinal hernia and purulent fibrinous periappendicitis occurs. The vermiform appendix was removed. During its examination by both the surgeon and the pathologist, no developmental abnormality was detected. Pathohistological examination revealed incomplete doubling of the appendix. The additional process was located in the thickened mesentery of the main appendix. The complete absence of the outer layer in the muscle membrane and the serous membrane of the accessory process was revealed. This abnormality has provoked the development of chronic recurrent appendicitis and periappendicitis with the formation of an appendicular infiltrate. Conclusion. This article describes a rare clinical case of not only abnormal development of the appendix with the formation of chronic recurrent appendicitis, the formation of periappendicular infiltrate, but also its atypical location – it was partially involved in an inguinal hernia.

Efficacy of modified Alvarado score combined with ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis: a prospective analytical study.

Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency encountered in the emergency department, and diagnosis is difficult at times. Imaging and various clinical scoring are present to aid in the diagnosis. Ultrasound is an easily accessible modality and can accomplish more than a computed tomography (CT) scan at times. Modified Alvarado score (MAS) includes parameters that do not pose an extra financial burden to the patient. Combining both the imaging and clinical scoring systems, the authors decided to evaluate the combined MAS for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. This is a prospective analytical study conducted in a tertiary hospital for one and a half years. Fifty-five patients with right lower quadrant pain were enroled, and evaluated along with an ultrasound. MAS and combined MAS were obtained, and the results of the histopathological examination were compared. Out of 55 clinically diagnosed cases who underwent an emergency appendectomy, 27 were males and 28 were females. Of these, 50 cases had acute appendicitis as per histopathological examination. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of the MAS was 42%, 100%, 100%, 20.8%, 47.27%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of the USG were 84%, 40%, 93.3%, 20%, and 80%, respectively. Combining both the scores, the Combined MAS had the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 98.18%, 0%, 90.7%, 0%, and 89.09%, respectively. As the combination of USG has raised the sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of the MAS, it can be an alternative to CT/MRI imaging for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in resource-limited settings. This score requires further studies to validate with a larger sample size.

Pathological Assessment of the Appendix in Appendectomies Performed in Children.

Acute appendicitis is known as the most common diagnosis of acute abdomen leading to surgery. Therefore, timely diagnosis is of special importance. This study was conducted with the aim of pathological assessment of the appendix in appendectomies performed in children to determine the rate of negative appendectomies and the predictors of negative appendectomy and to evaluate the paraclinical tools used in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. All children who underwent appendectomy at Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia from March 2021 to March 2022 were examined. The required data including demographic, paraclinical, and final pathology characteristics were collected and recorded. The investigated cases were classified into positive and negative appendectomy categories for comparison. Among 234 pathology samples of the appendix, 22 cases were related to accidental appendectomy. In addition, 11.3% of cases were negative appendectomy and 88.7% were positive appendectomy. The age range of 8 to 14 years and male gender were associated with a lower negative appendectomy rate (both P<0.001). Inflammatory (49.5%) and gangrenous appendicitis (30.2%) were the most commonly reported histopathologies. Sonography had a sensitivity of 84%, a specificity of 79%, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 83%. A relatively significant number of accidental and negative appendectomies are performed. More careful investigation and the use of expectant and medical treatment instead of surgery, especially in females and young children, can be effective in improving diagnostic accuracy and preventing negative appendectomies.

Epidemiology, Seasonal Variability, and Factors Associated with Increased Mortality in Patients with Acute Appendicitis in Thailand: A Study Using Data from the National Health Security Office

Objective: The study aimed to study the spatiotemporal distribution of acute appendicitis in Thailand, using a reimbursement dataset from the National Health Security Office, and also analyze for mortality and factors associated with mortality after an appendectomy.Material and Methods: The study used data mining to analyze a reimbursement data set from the Thailand National Health Security Office (NHSO), focusing on the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (K35.2-K35.9). The analysis looked for the incidence trend and seasonal variation of the incidence. The study also analyzed mortality and factors associated with the mortality. A prediction model for mortality was constructed using a decision tree. Results: During the 4 fiscal years of the study period, from October 2016 - September 2020, a total of 287,449 individuals were diagnosed with acute appendicitis, and 272,850 appendectomies were performed, which gave an annual incidence (AI) of 10.8/10,000 person-years. The peak age incidence was in the second decade of life, which had an age-specific AI of 28.4/10,000 person-years. Using a multiplicative model of time series detrending and a decomposition model and a seasonal variation of acute appendicitis, with the highest incidence from May to October, linear regression showed a significant correlation between the incidence of appendicitis and precipitation (r2=0.28, p-value&lt;0.001). The AI of appendicitis was declining and showed an especially large decline in the year 2020, when the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic began. The overall mortality was 2.3%. A significantly higher mortality rate was found in cases with extreme age (pediatric or geriatric), those with co-morbidities (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease), and those with complications, especially generalized peritonitis, sepsis, and acute kidney injury. A decision-tree prediction model suggested that sepsis and renal complication were key nodes determining mortality risk in pediatric and geriatric appendicitis. Conclusion: A mortality risk from appendicitis remains in Thai patients, especially the elderly with co-morbidities and those with generalized peritonitis, sepsis, or renal complications. Early diagnosis and improvement in perioperative care in the extreme age groups might improve the mortality figure. 

Acute appendicitis in adults: only clinical and laboratory diagnostics, only imaging, or both?

The presented article is devoted to the discussion of the necessity and expediency of using medical visualization diagnostics — radiological imaging — of acute appendicitis as an independent or complex approach in combination with clinical and laboratory data. Until now, the clinical diagnosis of each individual case of acute appendicitis is complicated, and its formulation requires combining clinical, laboratory and imaging data, since it includes a wide range of differential diagnoses depending on age and gender. The literature provides data that the frequency of negative appendectomies based on the results of a clinical examination can be up to 28.2%. Radiological imaging is used as an adjunct to clinical diagnostics using ultrasound examination, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, but the role of the latter is limited by the duration of the study, increased cost, unavailability around the clock, as well as the presence of absolute contraindications. Sonography and computed tomography in diagnostics have a number of advantages and disadvantages, and the question of choosing a specific method still causes scientific controversy. We also provide illustrative clinical examples demonstrating echographic and computed tomographic imaging manifestations of acute appendicitis, as well as discuss visualization signs. For a patient with suspected acute appendicitis, in order to increase the accuracy of diagnosis, reduce complications or the need of undergoing unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, a multidisciplinary and multimodal approach is necessary, taking into account age, gender and constitution, however, the question of choosing the optimal method of medical imaging in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis between ultrasound and computed tomography remains debatable.

Accuracyof Ultrasound and CT scans in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Children: A Systematic Review

Accuracyof Ultrasound and CT scans in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Children: A Systematic Review

Diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 for overall and complicated acute appendicitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 in acute appendicitis (AA). This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023450988). We included prospective and retrospective original clinical studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of serum CA-125 in AA. A search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and OVID. Search terms and keywords were: (appendicitis OR appendectomy) AND (CA-125 OR CA125). Two independent reviewers selected the articles and extracted relevant data. Methodological quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 index. A synthesis of the results, standardization of the metrics, and three random-effect meta-analyses were performed. Five studies with data from 533 participants (including 219 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AA and 107 controls) were included in this review. The random-effect meta-analysis of serum CA-125 (AA vs controls) included 3 articles (125 AA and 70 controls) and resulted in a non-significant mean difference [95% CI] of -6.80 [-20.51, 6.92] U/mL (p = 0.33). The meta-analysis by subgroups that included only male patients resulted in a significant mean difference [95% CI] of 3.48 [0.46, 6.49] U/mL (p = 0.02). Although serum CA-125 does not appear to be a good overall marker for the diagnosis of AA, our subgroup analyses show that this marker could be useful for diagnosing AA in males. It also appears to be a potentially useful tool for discriminating complicated and uncomplicated AA. However, the limited number of included studies precludes drawing generalizable conclusions. Future prospective studies focused on males and in its potential ability to discriminate between complicated and uncomplicatedAAare required.Registration. PROSPERO (CRD42023450988).

Diagnostic Efficacy Study Comparing Tzanakis Scoring System With Alvarado Scoring System in Effective Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis.

Objective Among the common causes of abdominal emergencies, acute appendicitis ranks at the top, particularly in the young population. While negative appendectomy is not uncommon, the risk of appendicular perforation is substantial if the diagnosis is missed or delayed. This study evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of the Tzanakis scoring system for acute appendicitis, comparing it with the Alvarado scoring system, considering the histopathological finding as the gold standard. Materials and methods This prospective observational study, conducted in the General Surgery department in a tertiary care hospital in India, included clinically diagnosed acute appendicitis cases posted for open or laparoscopic appendicectomy. Results The mean age for the 60 participants included in the study was30.97±13.44, and the median was 24.5 yrs. The sensitivity ofultrasonography (USG)in diagnosing histopathological positive acute appendicitis was 89%, and the specificity was 50%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of the Tzanakis score were 87%, 50%, 96%, and 22%, respectively, and those of the Alvarado score were 54%, 75%, 96%, and 10%, respectively. Conclusion The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve for the Alvarado and Tzanakis scores showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was greater for the Tzanakis scoring system (0.670) than for the Alvarado scoring system (0.598). Differences between the AUCs were not statistically significant. Although the Tzanakis scoring system is more sensitive than the Alvarado scoring system in diagnosing acute appendicitis, studies with larger samples are needed to show the superiority of this scoring system over the Alvarado scoring system.

Appendicoscopy Using Single Operator Cholangioscope in The Management of Acute Obstructive Appendicitis: A Novel Alternative

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of appendicoscopy using single-operator cholangioscopy (SOC) for the management of acute obstructive appendicitis. We describe 110 cases of acute obstructive appendicitis managed by appendicoscopy between January 2021 and June 2023. The success rate (technical + clinical), procedure time, time to relief abdominal pain using visual analogue scale (VAS), postoperative length of hospital stay, and complications rates were recorded and analyzed. The technical success rate of appendicoscopy was 96.4%; the clinical success rate was 91.8%. The mean procedure time was 20.9±10 minutes (standard deviation [SD]). The abdominal pain score at 6 hours after the procedure was ≤3 (VAS method) in 99.1% of the patients. The average length of postoperative hospital stay was 3.5±1.5 days. No adverse events occurred. Appendicoscopy appears to be a feasible and effective alternative therapy for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of acute obstructive appendicitis.

Reactive Protein can be use as a Diagnostic Tool for Acute Appendicitis

Background: Diagnosing and treating appendicitis is a common surgical emergency.Based on a thorough history, physical examination, test results, and imaging studies, an accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis can be made. Correct diagnosis is frequently challenging since the patient's age and the location of the appendix might affect the clinical presentation. This study aimed to determine the C- reactive protein's clinical usefulness as an appendicitis diagnostic test.Materials and Methods: An eight (08) months cross-sectional study was performed done between March and October, 2021. The study was conducted at the tertiary care hospital. In this study, 116 patients were included. Clinical details, examination, and history were noted. All patients having negative HBsAg, and Anti-HCV, required emergency surgery irrespective of age and gender were included in the study. All collected data were entered and analyzed through Microsoft Excel 2016.Results: A total of 116 appendicitis patients were studied in which majority patients were in age range from 18-30 years with 62.1% and 37.9% were observed in age between 31 to 45 years. Male patients were found frequently with 56.9%. CRP was positive in majoritypatients with 84.4% acute appendicitis.Conclusion: Acute appendicitis is not likely to be recognized in preoperative instances with increased CRP values. When a patient is suspected of having acute appendicitis, a standard laboratory test assessing CRP should be implemented. Acute appendicitis can bediagnosed with this test and utilized as a surgical indication marker.

Accuracy and Sensitivity of RIPASA Score in Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Accuracy and Sensitivity of RIPASA Score in Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Comparison of miRNA profiles in the immune response of pediatric acute appendicitis and pediatric enterobiasis patients caused by Enterobius vermicularis.

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the miRNA profile in the immune response with the parasite in pediatric patients with acute appendicitis caused by Enterobius vermicularis and in pediatric patients with enterobiasis. A total of 30 tissue samples, which were operated with the diagnosis of pediatric acute appendicitis in the last 10 y and Enterobius vermicularis was detected by histopathological findings, were analyzed. In addition, blood samples were taken from 30 pediatric patients diagnosed with enterobiasis for this study. The miRNAs that activate T and B cells were evaluated by a quantitative real-time PCR, statistically calculated within ΔΔCt values, and fold changes were evaluated by Welch's T test, in which p<0.5 was considered to be significant. It was found that 48 out of 136 (35.3%) miRNAs differed between the pediatric patient and healthy control groups. It was determined that 22 (57.9%) of the different miRNAs were T cell activating miRNAs and 26 (68.4%) were B cell activating miRNAs. While there was a significant difference in miRNA values activating T cells in two patient groups (p<0.01), there was no significant difference in miRNA values activating B cells (p>0.01). In the study, although Enterobius vermicularis was the causative agent in both patient groups, it was revealed that the immune response of patients with acute appendicitis was more affected than enterobiasis patients.

Neuroendocrine tumor of the appendix masquerading as acute appendicitis with a mucocele on CT scan: a rare finding

IntroductionNeuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the appendix are rare and are often discovered incidentally during surgery for acute appendicitis or other unrelated conditions (Modlin et al. in Gastroenterology 128:1717–1751, 2005, Alsaad et al. in Oncol Rep 16:1105–1109, 2006, Frilling et al. in Lancet Oncol 15:e8–e21, 2014). These tumors can range from asymptomatic incidental findings to clinically significant tumors with metastases (Alsaad et al. in Oncol Rep 16:1105–1109, 2006, Gomes et al. in World J Emerg Surg 10:60, 2015, Paiva et al. in Eur J Cancer 38:702–705, 2002, Burke et al. in Am J Surg Pathol. 9:661–674, 1985). This case report presents a rare case of a NET of the appendix presenting as acute appendicitis.Case descriptionA 23-year-old male presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for 2 days. A CT scan revealed a mucocoele of the appendix. The patient underwent laparoscopic appendectomy, and the appendix was sent for histopathological examination. The final pathological report confirmed a NET of the appendix with a Ki-67 index of 1% and no lymphovascular invasion. Due to tumor invasion to the cecum and its large size (3–4 cm), the patient underwent right hemicolectomy. The final histopathology report of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis of NET of the appendix.DiscussionThe clinical diagnosis of NETs of the appendix can be challenging due to their rarity and non-specific presentation. Symptoms of NETs of the appendix can mimic those of acute appendicitis, making it difficult to differentiate between the two conditions. Imaging studies, such as CT scans, can provide valuable information about the size and location of the tumor (Gomes et al. in World J Emerg Surg 10:60, 2015, Maggard et al. in Ann Surg 240:117–122, 2004, Burke et al. in Am J Surg Pathol. 9:661–674, 1985, Frilling et al. in Lancet Oncol 15:e8–e21, 2014). However, the definitive diagnosis is made through histopathological examination of the resected specimen. The treatment of NETs of the appendix depends on factors such as the size, location, and grade of the tumor. Small tumors confined to the appendix with no lymph-vascular invasion can be treated with appendectomy alone, while larger tumors or those that have spread beyond the appendix may require more extensive surgery, such as right hemicolectomy (Gomes et al. in World J Emerg Surg 10:60, 2015, Mestier et al. in Dig Liver Dis 52:899–911, 2020, Maggard et al. in Ann Surg 240:117–122, 2004, Burke et al. in Am J Surg Pathol. 9:661–674, 1985, Frilling et al. in Lancet Oncol 15:e8–e21, 2014, Pavel et al. in Neuroendocrinology 103:172–185, 2016). In some cases, additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be recommended.ConclusionThis case report emphasizes the importance of considering NETs of the appendix in the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Imaging studies can provide valuable information, but the definitive diagnosis is made through histopathological examination. The treatment approach for NETs of the appendix depends on various factors and requires a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management.

Current use of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis is a common and time-sensitive surgical emergency, requiring rapid and accurate diagnosis and management to prevent complications. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in healthcare, offering significant potential to improve the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis. This review provides an overview of the evolving role of AI in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis, highlighting its benefits, challenges, and future perspectives. We performed a literature search on articles published from 2018 to September 2023. We included only original articles. Overall, 121 studies were examined. We included 32 studies: 23 studies addressed the diagnosis, five the differentiation between complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis, and 4 studies the management of acute appendicitis. AI is poised to revolutionize the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis by improving accuracy, speed and consistency. It could potentially reduce healthcare costs. As AI technologies continue to evolve, further research and collaboration are needed to fully realize their potential in the diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis.

Artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis: a narrative review.

Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare. Artificial intelligence can improve patient care by analyzing large amounts of data to help make more informed decisions regarding treatments and enhance medical research through analyzing and interpreting data from clinical trials and research projects to identify subtle but meaningful trends beyond ordinary perception. Artificial intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in computers, where systems of artificial intelligence can perform tasks that require human-like intelligence like speech recognition, visual perception, pattern-recognition, decision-making, and language processing. Artificial intelligence has several subdivisions, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. By automating specific routine tasks, artificial intelligence can improve healthcare efficiency. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, the systems of artificial intelligence can offer new opportunities for enhancing both the efficiency and effectiveness of surgical procedures, particularly regarding training of minimally invasive surgery. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, it is likely to play an increasingly significant role in the field of surgical learning. Physicians have assisted to a spreading role of artificial intelligence in the last decade. This involved different medical specialties such as ophthalmology, cardiology, urology, but also abdominal surgery. In addition to improvements in diagnosis, ascertainment of efficacy of treatment and autonomous actions, artificial intelligence has the potential to improve surgeons' ability to better decide if acute surgery is indicated or not. The role of artificial intelligence in the emergency departments has also been investigated. We considered one of the most common condition the emergency surgeons have to face, acute appendicitis, to assess the state of the art of artificial intelligence in this frequent acute disease. The role of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis will be discussed in this narrative review.

Accuracy and sensitivity of RIPASA score Versus Alvarado score in diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Accuracy and sensitivity of RIPASA score Versus Alvarado score in diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosis of acute appendicitis at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

Accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosis of acute appendicitis at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital