Diagnosis Of Acute Appendicitis Research Articles

A different way to diagnosis acute appendicitis: machine learning.

<b><br>Indroduction:</b> Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence based on the idea that systems can learn from data, identify patterns, and make decisions with minimal human intervention.</br> <b><br>Aim:</b> Our aim is to predict acute appendicitis, which is the most common indication for emergency surgery, using machine learning algorithms with an easy and inexpensive method.</br> <b><br>Materials and methods:</b> Patients who were treated surgically with a prediagnosis of acute appendicitis in a single center between 2011 and 2021 were analyzed. Patients with right lower quadrant pain were selected. A total of 189 positive and 156 negative appendectomies were found. Gender and hemogram were used as features. Machine learning algorithms and data analysis were made in Python (3.7) programming language.</br> <b><br>Results:</b> Negative appendectomies were found in 62% (n = 97) of the women and in 38% (n = 59) of the men. Positive appendectomies were present in 38% (n = 72) of the women and 62% (n = 117) of the men. The accuracy in the test data was 82.7% in logistic regression, 68.9% in support vector machines, 78.1% in k-nearest neighbors, and 83.9% in neural networks. The accuracy in the voting classifier created with logistic regression, k-nearest neighbor, support vector machines, and artificial neural networks was 86.2%. In the voting classifier, the sensitivity was 83.7% and the specificity was 88.6%.</br> <b><br>Conclusions:</b> The results of our study show that machine learning is an effective method for diagnosing acute appendicitis. This study presents a practical, easy, fast, and inexpensive method to predict the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.</br&gt.

A Comparison of the Modified Alvarado Score and the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (Ripasa) Score in a Southeast Asian Population With Histopathology as the Gold Standard.

Background The diagnosis of acute appendicitis has remained difficult despite it being one of the most common surgical emergencies in the world. One of the most frequently used scoring systems is the Modified Alvarado Score (MAS). However, the MAS has been known to be less efficient in Asian populations. To overcome this issue, the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (RIPASA) score has been specifically developed to improve the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in Asian populations. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the RIPASA score compared to the MAS for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in a Southeast Asian population keeping histopathology as the gold standard. Methodology The study group comprised 150 patients. Data were collected from each patient using a simple proforma to ascertain both the MAS and the RIPASA score for each patient at the time of presentation. The patients then underwent open appendectomy and histopathology was used as the gold standard to determine the presence or absence of acute appendicitis in the excised specimens. Results The RIPASA score had a sensitivity and specificity of 89.83% and 59.38%, respectively, compared to 64.41% and 53.12%, respectively, for the MAS. Diagnostic accuracy was similarly higher for the RIPASA score at 83.33% versus 62.00% for the MAS. Conclusions The RIPASA score is superior to the MAS for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Using the RIPASA score instead of the MAS in Southeast Asian populations can lead to a more accurate and timely clinical diagnosis of patients with suspected acute appendicitis and help improve patient outcomes.

Diagnostic Ultrasound for Acute Appendicitis: The Gold Standard

BackgroundAcute appendicitis may present a diagnostic dilemma. The aim of this study was to review the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of paediatric acute appendicitis. MethodUltrasound studies performed for investigation of appendicitis during 2015–2021 were retrieved from a tertiary paediatric hospital database and reviewed. Medical records were reviewed to determine operative intervention, further imaging, and final diagnosis. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, predictivity, and overall accuracy. All appendicectomy specimens underwent histopathological confirmation. This study was approved by the local Human Research Ethics Committee. ResultsA total of 8555 consecutive ultrasound examinations were performed during the study period. Mean patient age was 10.8 years ( ± 3.7). Overall diagnostic accuracy was 96.1% (8221/8555) with a visualisation rate of 91.0%. Sensitivity and specificity were 96.2% (CI 95.3–97.0%) and 96.1% (CI 95.6–96.5%), respectively. When limited to positive/negative scans, sensitivity was 99.6% (CI 99.2–99.8%) and specificity 99.0% (CI 98.7–99.3%). Positive and negative predictive values were 96.9% and 99.9%, respectively. Repeat ultrasound following a non-diagnostic scan led to a definitive diagnosis in 76.1%. Negative appendicectomy rate was 5.5% overall in children who had undergone pre-operative ultrasound (107/1938), and 4.4% when other surgical pathologies were excluded. ConclusionUltrasound examination provides gold-standard accuracy in the diagnosis of paediatric appendicitis and reduces rates of negative appendicectomy. Given the disadvantages of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound should be considered the first-line investigation of choice in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children. Level of EvidenceIII.

The Accuracy of Abdominal Ultrasound and the Modified Alvarado Score in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

The Accuracy of Abdominal Ultrasound and the Modified Alvarado Score in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Risk of Conversion from Laparoscopic Appendectomy to Open Surgery: The Role of Clinical and Radiological Factors in Prediction.

Introduction: Laparoscopic appendectomy is the most preferred surgical method in the treatment of acute appendicitis. In our study, we aim to determine the clinical and radiological factors affecting conversion from laparoscopic appendectomy to open surgery. Materials and Methods: All patients older than 18 years, who were operated on with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the General Surgery clinic of Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Training and Research hospital between January 2020 and January 2022, were included in the study. The data consisting of clinical, laboratory, and radiological (computed tomography) findings of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups as those whose surgery was completed laparoscopically (Group 1) and those converted from laparoscopic appendectomy to open surgery (Group 2). The risk of conversion to open surgery was analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis as univariate and multivariate models. Results: Appendectomy was performed in 831 patients within the specified period. The surgery of 31 (3.73%) patients started laparoscopically; however, they were completed by converting to open surgery. Multivariable analysis showed that the risk of conversion to open surgery increased with leukocyte count, Alvarado score and with the presence of periappendiceal fluid and lymphadenopathy on CT. Conclusion: Our study shows that patients with high risk of returning to open surgery can be identified preoperatively with the risk analysis method in which clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings are evaluated together. We conclude that, starting the operation of these patients with the open technique from the beginning will prevent unnecessary expenditures and reduce morbidities.

Accuracy of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting the Severity of Acute Appendicitis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Investigate the potential use of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the identification and differentiation of acute appendicitis patients, specifically between simple and complicated presentations. An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted in Aseer Central Hospital, Saudi Arabia. In total, 103 patients were included in this study, in which males (50.5%) weremore common than females (49.5%), and the most common age group was found to be 36-45 years (56.3%), followed by 18-25 years (23.3%). All patients (100%) had a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The means of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and NLR were found to be68.970%, 22.067%, and 5.020, respectively. The majority (69%) had non-complicated appendicitis, while (31%) had complications. A significant association was seen between NLR and the occurrence of complications (p-value = 0.00001). This study can comprehensively support the evidence presented in the literature review. The use of the NLR demonstrates a notable level of accuracy in diagnosing acute appendicitis and differentiating between complex and uncomplicated cases.

Appendicitis in pregnant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography.

The accuracy of ultrasound in the detection of appendicitis in pregnant women was examined in a meta-analysis. Pregnant women with suspected acute appendicitis were evaluated using ultrasound in a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases from January 1, 2011 to August 10, 2023. The sensitivity and specificity values and diagnostic odds ratios were obtained using the pooled data. A total of 239 patients were studied in four relevant investigations. Ultrasonography has a sensitivity of 56% and a specificity of 88% for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.66%. Ultrasonography had a positive likelihood ratio of 4.65 (95% confidence interval, 1.42-15.23) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.50 (95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.62). There was no evidence of publication bias (p = 0.93). Ultrasound has moderate sensitivity for identifying appendicitis in pregnant women and may be utilized as an alternative diagnostic method.

Comparison of Pediatric Acute Appendicitis Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City.

Background: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common abdominal surgical emergency in children and adolescents. In the year immediately following the declaration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), there was a precipitous decline in emergency department (ED) visits especially for surgical conditions and infectious diseases. Fear of exposure to severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 infection resulted in delay in presentation and time to surgery, and a shift toward more conservative management. Objective: Our goal was to compare the incidence and severity of AA before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Patients aged 2-18years admitted with the diagnosis of AA to Flushing Hospital Medical Center or Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York, were selected for chart review. Data extracted from electronic health records included demographics, clinical findings, imaging studies, and operative and pathological findings. We calculated the Alvarado score (AS) for incidence and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade for severity. We compared patients admitted between March 1, 2018-February 29, 2020 (pre-pandemic) to patients admitted between March 1, 2020-February 28, 2021 (pandemic). We then compared pre-pandemic and pandemic groups to determine differences in pediatric AA incidence and severity. Results: Of 239 patients diagnosed with AA, 184 (77%) were in the pre-pandemic group and 55 (23%) in the pandemic group. Incidence (number per year) of AA declined by 40%. The pandemic group had significantly greater overall AS of ≥7, indicating increased likelihood to require surgery, (P = 0.04) and higher AAST grade demonstrating increased severity (P = 0.02). Conclusion: There was a decline in the number of AA cases seen in our pediatric EDs and admitted during the first year of the pandemic. Clinicians need to be aware of increased severity of AA at time of presentation during public health emergencies such as a pandemic, possibly due to modified patient behavior.

Causative microbes and antibiotic susceptibility of acute appendicitis in adults and children

In recent years, some studies have found that acute uncomplicated appendicitis can be treated with antibiotics alone. Because of the lack of relevant research on treating acute appendicitis in Taiwan, this study investigated the microbiological characteristics of acute appendicitis to permit accurate empirical antibiotic use for uncomplicated appendicitis. In this single-center retrospective cohort study, patients listed in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database with a discharge diagnosis of acute appendicitis were identified. Data for bacterial specimens and antibiotic susceptibility tests among patients treated at Tri-Service General Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021 were analyzed. Among 2805 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis, 167 (6%) were <18 years old. The culture positivity rates among children and adults were 33% and 18%, respectively. In total, 367 aerobes and 207 anaerobes were isolated. The predominant aerobic gram-positive coccus was viridans group streptococci (8.9%), the most common aerobic gram-negative bacillus was Escherichia coli (27.9%), and the most common anaerobic microorganism was Bacteroides spp. (27.7%). The results of antibiotic susceptibility testing of the predominant microorganisms revealed that 86.3% of gram-positive aerobes were susceptible to ampicillin, 76.3% of gram-negative aerobes were susceptible to gentamicin, and all anaerobic isolates were susceptible to metronidazole. Triple first-line antibiotic combination therapy, including ampicillin, gentamicin, and metronidazole, remains highly effective against the pathogens that cause acute appendicitis.

EVALUATION OF MEAN PLATELET VOLUME LEVEL AS A BIOMARKER IN ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENT: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Objective: This study aims to investigate the diagnostic value of mean platelet volume (MPV) in early diagnosis of acute appendicitis cases in children and adolescents. Methods: 50 patients with the age of ≤20 years were chosen retrospectively from the case files of the patients admitted to the hospital between May 2021 and May 2022 in whom the definite diagnosis of acute appendicitis was confirmed with postoperative pathological examination. This group was labeled as case group. The control group consists of 50 patients with the age of ≤20 years who came for the regular health checkups at our institute. All blood samples were analyzed for complete blood count that includes MPV also in a fully automated 6-part hematology cell counter. These data of both the groups were analyzed statically to calculate p value using the online Student’s t-test calculator. The value p&lt;0.05 is considered to be statistically significant. Results: Majority of acute Appendicitis cases (n=30, 60%) belong to 16–20 years, followed by 24% in 11–15-year-age group. The mean age was 14.96±2.75 years. According to gender, 66% (n=33) were male. The mean platelet count in the case of group was 3.10±0.5 Lakhs/ml whereas in the case of Group was 2.86±0.7 lakhs/mL. There was no statistically significant difference among the group with respect to platelet count (p=0.188 &gt;0.05) The MPV in the case of case Group was 7.92±0.3 fL whereas in the case of the control group was 8.62±0.4 fL. There was a statistically significant difference among the in terms of MPV (p=0.04 &lt;0.05). Conclusion: The diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children and adolescents is aided by a decrease in MPV. The rate of negative appendectomy in children and adolescents with suspected acute appendicitis may decrease if the clinician pays attention to the MPV (which is determined routinely as a part of automated count) alongside other parameters and clinical evaluations.

Acute appendicitis in pregnancy

Introduction: The early diagnosis and management of appendicitis in pregnancy are essential in maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In this 20-year retrospective study, we aimed to assess the outcomes of pregnant patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis.Methods: A single-center retrospective study was carried out. Randomly selected 2000 medical records of pregnant mothers referred as outpatients and hospitalized from 2002 to 2022 were retrieved. Six pregnant patients who were diagnosed and treated in Nawaloka Hospital with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis during 2002-2022 were examined retrospectively. Ethics Committee approval was received. No conflicting interest.Results: The age range of our patients was 22 to 31 years, mean of 26± 3.4. The mean gestational week was 20±5.3 weeks, and most were in the second trimester 4 (68%). All patients were admitted with the complaint of abdominal pain, the majority of them had the right iliac fossa pain (RIF). All had elevated inflammatory markers. No computed tomography (CT) was performed. One patient was diagnosed clinically of having acute appendicitis without any imaging. Acute appendicitis was diagnosed in 3/5 patients who underwent ultrasound scan examination. The other two patients (one from 2nd trimester and one in the third trimester) were diagnosed with acute appendicitis on MRI examination. All patients underwent open appendectomy under general anaesthesia. No maternal or foetal morbidity or mortality was noted during pre or post-surgical and anaesthesia procedures. The mean hospital stay was 3.9±0.9 days. All appendixes were pathologically proven to have acute appendicitis. Except for minor superficial surgical site infection rest of the mothers and foetus had no morbidity or mortality recorded in the follow-up.Conclusion: Although appendicitis is not frequent during pregnancy, it is a disease that requires urgent surgical and obstetrics care for timely diagnosis and treatment.

CORRELATION OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND CT WITH HISTOPATHOLOGY IN DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the ultrasound and contrast enhanced computed tomography scan in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) and subject all patients clinically suspected of AA to both ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) whole Abdomen. Methods: It was a prospective and observational study carried on 50 patients with clinical diagnosis of AA, presenting to the surgery emergency ward and referred to Department of Radiodiagnosis, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Results and Conclusions: CT scan has more diagnostic accuracy than ultrasonography. The ultrasound (US) accuracy was 84%, sensitivity was 89.13% and specificity was 75%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 97%, and negative predictive values (NPV) was 37%. Comparing US to CT imaging, this study showed better performance for CT imaging which was 90% accurate, 97.83 sensitive and 100% specific, with PPV of 100% and NPV of 80%.

Clinicopathological Profile of Appendicular Disease in Children: A Tertiary Health Care Center Study.

Background Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical emergency worldwide. Delay in diagnosis of disease often leads to serious complications such as perforation appendicitis (PA) and gangrenous appendicitis (GA). Aims and objectives The purpose of the study is to document clinicopathological outcomes in pediatric age group patients in a tertiary health care center. Material and method This study was a prospective observation study of 50 patients with pediatric appendicitis who had undergone emergency appendectomy from January 2022 to December 2022. All pediatric patients below 15 years of age with a diagnosis of AA were included. Institute ethical permission was granted before the study, and parent consent was taken for the surgery and also for inclusion in the study. After proper resuscitation, all patients underwent appendectomy, and necessary specimens were sent for histological examination. Based on histopathology reports, all patients were classified into four groups: AA, PA, GA, and normal appendix (NA). Results Out of 50 patients, 33 (66%) patients were males and 17 (34%) patients were females. The mean age of the patients was 10.22 ± 2.73 years. The mean age of AA, PA, GA, and NA patients were 10.25 ± 2.6 years, 9.78 ± 2.99 years, 10.00 ± 4.6 years, and 12.00 ± 2.8 years, respectively. The mean duration of symptoms at the time of hospital admission was 2.42 ± 0.97 days forhistopathologically proven AA patients, 4.67 ± 2.1 days for GA patients, 2.8 ± 0.83 for PA patients, and one day for NA patients. Overall clinical presentation was right iliac fossa (RIF) pain in 36 (72%) patients, migration of pain in 31 (62%) patients, anorexia in 37 (74%) patients, nausea and vomiting in 43 (86%) patients fever in 26 (52%) patients, RIF tenderness in 50 (100%) patients, rebound tenderness in 39 (78%) patients, guarding in 19 (38%) patients, Psoas's sign in nine (18% patients), and Rovsing's sign in 19 (38%) patients. On histopathological examination of the sent specimen, AA was found in 36 (72%) patients, PA was found in nine (18%) patients, GA was found in three (6%) patients, and NA was found in two (4%) patients. Wound infection was the most common complication and was found in five (10%) patients. The average duration of hospital stay for AA, PA, GA, and NA was 4.33 ± 1.04 days, 9.56 ± 4.2 days, 12.33 ± 8.5 days, and 3.50 ± 0.71 days, respectively. Conclusion The appendicular disease is common in teenage male children. Fever, dehydration, and rebound tenderness at the RIF are clinically significant findings. Duration of symptoms at the time of diagnosis, post-appendectomy complication, and duration of hospital stay significantly correlated with histopathological findings.

Using MRI appendicitis scale and DWI for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnant women.

To assess the performance of MRI scale for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnant women and to determine the added diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). From January 2018 to December 2020, 80 patients were included. All MRI were performed with a 1.5-Tesla scanner with anterior array body coil. This analysis included (1) T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), (2) fat-saturated T2WI, and (3) DWI. Two radiologists blinded to the diagnosis recorded their assessment of four findings: appendiceal diameter, appendiceal wall thickness, luminal mucus, and periappendiceal inflammation. The MRI scale of acute appendicitis which ranged from 0 to 4 was determined from these factors. An additional one point was added to the MRI appendicitis scale in those patients with evidence of appendiceal restricted diffusion on DWI. The diagnostic values and predictive factors were computed. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the calculated MRI appendicitis scale was a significant independent predictor of acute appendicitis with a sensitivity of 96.6%, specificity of 90.2%, and PPV of 84.8%. The odds ratio of appendicitis is increased by 22.3 times for every increase in one point on the MRI appendicitis scale. Therefore, the addition of one point for restricted diffusion in the appendix on DWI imaging can add substantial value, both positive and negative predictive value, towards making an accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis. MRI appendicitis scale is an objective and significant independent predictive factor for acute appendicitis in pregnant women. Incorporation of diffusion weighted imaging to MRI can improve diagnosis of acute appendicitis. MRI appendicitis scale is an objective and significant independent predictor of acute appendicitis in pregnant women. Incorporation of DWI/ADC map to MRI examinations can improve diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnant women. • MRI appendicitis scale is an objective and significant independent predictive factor for acute appendicitis in pregnant women. • The odds ratio of appendicitis can be increased by 22.3 times for every increase of one unit in MRI scale. • Incorporation of diffusion-weighted imaging to MRI examinations can add value to the scale (4.2 ± 0.7 vs. 0.7 ± 1.1; p < 0.001) among pregnant women with appendicitis versus pregnant women without appendicitis.

Valor de la ecografía abdominal en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda

Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common reasons for emergency departments visits and emergency surgery. In some cases, its diagnosis is still difficult. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of abdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in a tertiary health care center. Material and methods: We conducted longitudinal study to evaluate the performance of a diagnostic test using data retrospectively collected. The population was made up of 113 patients [mean age: 24 years (range 3-90)], who consulted for pain in the right iliac fossa, underwent abdominal ultrasound and could be followed up until the results of the pathological examination were available between February 2016 and February 2018. The analysis included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of ultrasound for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Results: Ultrasound was positive for the diagnosis of appendicitis in 32 patients (28.3%) and was negative in 81 patients (71.7%). Fifty-three patients (46.9%) underwent surgery; 44 (38.9%) had confirmed appendicitis while the appendix was healthy in 9 patients (7.96%), and among these patients, the ultrasound had been negative for appendicitis. Sensitivity was 68.1%, specificity 97.1%, the positive predictive value was 93.7% and the negative predictive value 82.7%, with a false positive rate of 6.3% and a false negative rate of 17.2%. Conclusion: The results obtained coincide with those of the international literature and confirm that ultrasound is a useful tool for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Modified Alvarado and Samuel scores: Contribution to the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the pediatric acute and emergency department

Introduction Acute abdominal pain is a common complaint among pediatric patients. Surgical emergencies, particularly acute appendicitis (AA), evoke significant concern due to the challenges associated with its diagnosis. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of modified Alvarado and Samuel scores (pediatric appendicitis scoring systems) to the diagnosis of AA in children who attended our acute and emergency department. Study Population and Methods Children aged 3 to 16 years who presented to the acute and emergency department with acute abdominal pain were included after obtaining parental consent and Ethics Committee approval. Data on the patient’s age, sex, body temperature, history of bowel habits, trauma, weight loss, chronic gastrointestinal disease, etc., were collected. The modified Alvarado and Samuel scores were calculated, and children were classified into three groups: G1 (score &lt;4), G2 (≥4 score &lt;7), and G3 (score ≥7). The diagnostic value of both scores was assessed by calculating their positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR). Children with known chronic inflammatory bowel disease, obvious sepsis, and incomplete case records were excluded. Results Of the 90 children recruited for this study, only 87 were included (49 boys, 38 girls, sex ratio: 1.3:1). The overall mean age of the study population was 9.3 years, and the mean ages per group were 9.25 years (G1), 10.3 years (G3), 9.5 years (G3-1), and 7.25 years (G3-2). Of the 87 children, 69 (79%) experienced abdominal pain attributed to a medical cause, and 18 (21%) required surgery [of whom 16 received early intervention, while 2 (G3-1 subgroup) received the intervention after 24 hours of observation]. Of the 16 patients who received early intervention, 6 (38%) who underwent immediate surgery had perforated appendicitis, 4 had suppurated appendicitis, and 6 had simple inflammatory appendicitis. For G3 patients, Alvarado score showed a PPV, an NPV, a sensitivity, a specificity, a PLR, and a NLR of 91.7%, 98%, 91.7%, 98%, 45.5, and 0.09, respectively. For Samuel score, the values were 93%, 98%, 93%, 98%, 46, and 0.08, respectively. The majority of patients with purulent and perforated appendicitis (except 1, score 3) belonged to G3, of whom 1 had a false-positive score (score ≥7) and another had a false-negative score (score 3). Four patients in G3 required abdominal tomodensitometry. Conclusion The modified Alvarado and Samuel scoring system is a valuable tool for diagnosing AA in children seeking care at the acute and emergency department.

Clinical effectiveness study of the new diagnostic score of acute appendicitis in the elderly

Introduction. Acute appendicitis is among the three most frequent surgical diseases. The lifetime likelihood of developing acute appendicitis is around 7%. The incidence of acute appendicitis reduces with age after adolescence. Several studies evaluated the relevance of the current scores to the general population, mostly children, but a limited number of studies have studied the elderly population. This study aims to assess the clinical effectiveness of the new diagnostic score for the elderly population in comparison to both the Alvarado score and the non-standardized score. Material and methods. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the diagnostic score of acute appendicitis, we examined 78 patients who were admitted to emergency unit of the Saint Archangel Michael Municipal Clinical Hospital during 20182021 with the presumptive diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Of all patients admitted, Acute Appendicitis was confirmed on pathological examination in 22 (28.2%) patients. The average age of patients was 73.5±13.5 years (minimum - 60 years, maximum - 87 years). The ratio of males to females was 1:1.6. Results. Comparative evaluation of the new diagnostic score of acute appendicitis and the non-standardized clinical-echographic examination for acute appendicitis diagnosis showed better performance indicators of the new diagnostic score of acute appendicitis compared to the non-standardized clinical method for acute appendicitis diagnosis. The high sensitivity of the new diagnostic score of acute appendicitis was statistically demonstrated (ƛ2 = 4.32; p &lt; 0.05), a lower rate of missed acute appendicitis cases in the new diagnostic score of acute appendicitis (ƛ2 = 4.32; p &lt; 0.05), the „grey area” is lower in the new diagnostic score of acute appendicitis (ƛ2 = 5.28; p &lt; 0.05), than in the non-standardized diagnosis. It was shown to have a lower rate of acute appendicitis cases in the „grey area” of the total number of acute appendicitis cases (ƛ2 = 4.9; p &lt; 0.05). Benchmarking indicators such as specificity and diagnostic accuracy showed no statistically significant differences. At the same time, a definite increase in specificity and accuracy was observed for the new diagnostic score of acute appendicitis compared to non-standardized clinical diagnosis. Conclusions. Diagnosing acute appendicitis in elderly patients remains challenging due to the numerous potential diagnoses with similar clinical manifestations that are observed in this patient population. It was necessary to utilize clinical risk-scoring systems that could aid in the prompt identification of patients with acute appendicitis. This study concludes that the New diagnostic score has higher clinical efficiency in diagnosing acute appendicitis in elderly patients. It has a sensitivity of up to 93.15%, compared to the unstandardized clinical method and the Alvarado diagnostic score, and is independent of „risk factors” such as obesity and atypical vermiform appendix localization.

Post-Operative Increase in Serum Interleukin-6 Is Associated With Longer Hospital Stay in Children Operated on for Acute Appendicitis: A Pilot Study.

Background: Pediatric acute appendicitis (PAA) involves a substantial consumption of health and economic resources. The identification of serum biomarkers that may help predict the post-surgical evolution of these patients is a field of great interest. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, observational substudy within the Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Appendicitis in Pediatrics (BIDIAP) cohort aimed at evaluating the association between post-surgical increase in serum IL-6 and different outcomes related to the clinical evolution of children operated on for PAA. Sixty-nine children with a confirmed diagnosis of acute appendicitis and both pre-operative and post-operative serum IL-6 were included in the study. Three multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were fitted to analyze the association between an increase of >10% in post-operative serum IL-6 level with the length of stay, the number of post-operative emetic episodes, and the onset of oral feeding. Two multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were fitted to assess the association of the same exposure with the indication of antibiotherapy at discharge and with positivity in peritoneal fluid culture. Results: Thirteen children showed an increase of >10% in the post-operative serum IL-6 value (group 1) whereas 56 showed only a minor increase, or no change (group 2). After accounting for potential confounders, children in group 1 had a mean of three-day longer hospital stay (difference, 3.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-6.09) and higher odds of a positive result in peritoneal fluid culture (odds ratio [OR], 37.43; 95% CI, 1.02-1361.28) than children in group 2. Conclusions: An increase of >10% in post-operative serum IL-6 value could predict longer hospital stay and higher odds of positive peritoneal fluid culture. Future prospective studies are needed to replicate these findings and to broaden the range of biomarkers that could predict the post-operative evolution of children operated on for PAA.

Pediatric Ultrasound Appendicitis Score for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis to Reduce Computed Tomography Scan Utilization.

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common reasons for pediatric surgical consultation in the emergency room. Although acute appendicitis is a clinical diagnosis, the use of imaging in the emergency department to assist with the diagnosis is very common. Ultrasound is frequently utilized in pediatrics because of the radiation risks associated with computed tomography (CT) scan. The risks of radiation in the pediatric population are much more significant than in adults. Reasons for this include smaller size so there is a relative higher radiation dose than for larger adults, radiosensitive organs such as thyroid, bone marrow, and gonads, and radiation exposure earlier in life allows for more time that a radiation induced cancer could develop. The risks of radiation from imaging are increased with cumulative dosing. The purpose of this study was to incorporate the pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) and standardized ultrasound scoring system to provide a combined score that would assist with the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis and avoid the need for a CT scan. The presented data shows that for scores of 7 or more, the specificity and sensitivity is 90% and 90.2%, respectively for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. This study validates the combined score, shows the specific cutoffs, and initiates the discussion that CT scan may not always be required for diagnosing acute appendicitis if this scoring system is used.

1148 A Rare Case of Loose Right Medial Umbilical Ligament Found During Laparoscopic Appendectomy

Abstract Aim We report this extremely rare variation of loose medial umbilical ligament discovered incidentally during laparoscopic appendectomy. This can be a potential cause of bowel obstruction and internal herniation or cause technical difficulty during laparoscopic surgery. Method A 29-year-old man presented to the emergency department with one day history of central abdominal pain that shifted to right iliac fossa associated with nausea and vomiting. He has no significant past medical history. His abdominal examination revealed tenderness and guarding in the right iliac fossa and his inflammatory markers were elevated. A clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made. Results The patient was brought to the operating theatre for laparoscopic appendectomy. Laparoscopy revealed acutely inflamed appendix and also a completely redundant rounded structure extending from the anterior abdominal wall just to the right side of the umbilicus to the small bowel mesentery consistent with right medial umbilical ligament. The left medial umbilical ligament was entirely normal. Excision of right medial umbilical ligament was done using LigaSure laparoscopic instrument and was sent for histology. Laparoscopic appendectomy was also performed. The patient recovered well with no complications. Conclusions The medial umbilical ligament is the obliterated umbilical artery. This anatomical variation of the medial umbilical ligament is extremely rare. Surgeons should be aware of anatomical variations of medial umbilical ligament especially during laparoscopic surgeries at it may affect the surgeon’s preference for trocar locations.