Rebound Tenderness Research Articles

072. Subhepatic Appendicitis in A 23 Year Old Woman: A Rare Case Report

Background: Subhepatic appendicitis is a rare condition that occurs in only 0.01% of all acute appendicitis cases. The subhepatic position of the appendix is due to a developmental anomaly resulting from the failure of the caecum to descend during embryonic development. Its symptoms often resemble those of other diseases such as cholecystitis, pyelonephritis, and urolithiasis, which can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Case: A 23-year-old woman presented with four-day history of pain in the right upper quadrant of her abdomen, fever, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. Abdominal examination revealed tenderness of all abdominal quadrants, which was more pronounced over the right upper and middle quadrant with positive rebound tenderness. Laboratory tests showed high levels of neutrophilic leukocytosis. Ultrasound imaging revealed an inflamed vermiform appendix in the subhepatic region. A diagnosis of an abnormally located appendix was made, and the patient underwent laparotomy. During exploration, an inflamed appendix was found covered by omentum in the right upper quadrant, and appendectomy was carried out smoothly. The patient was in good clinical condition without any complications. Conclusion: Subhepatic appendicitis presents a significant challenge to clinicians due to its unusual location. Failure to diagnose and manage it promptly can lead to complications such as abscesses, peritonitis, sepsis, and increased morbidity. Midline laparotomy is recommended due to the subhepatic location of the appendix and the possibility of retrocecal, dense adhesion or fibrosis, and perforation, which would make a laparoscopic approach unsafe.

Appendectomy for suspected appendicitis during pregnancy– a retrospective comparative study of 99 pregnant and 1796 non-pregnant women

IntroductionSuspected appendicitis is the most common indication for non-obstetric surgery during pregnancy. Diagnosis and management of these patients can be challenging. Atypical clinical presentation has been described before, but the current literature consists mostly of small case series. Therefore, we conducted a large retrospective study to analyze the frequency and diagnostic accuracy of clinical signs, laboratory findings and imaging modalities in pregnant woman undergoing surgery for suspected appendicitis compared to a control group of non-pregnant women of childbearing age. We further describe intra- and postoperative findings in both groups.MethodsData from consecutive patients who underwent appendectomy for suspected appendicitis during pregnancy were retrieved from the electronic patient database and analyzed. Preoperative clinical, laboratory and imaging findings as well as intra- and postoperative characteristics were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant women.ResultsBetween January 2008 and June 2023, 99 pregnant woman and 1796 non-pregnant woman between the ages of 16 and 49 underwent emergency surgery for suspected appendicitis. Pregnant women were less likely to have right lower quadrant tenderness (p = 0.002), guarding (p = 0.011) and rebound tenderness (p = 0.097). A greater percentage of pregnant women had a symptom duration of more than 24 h before presentation (p = 0.003) Abdominal ultrasound showed a reduced diagnostic accuracy in pregnant women (p = 0.004). MRI was used in eight pregnant women and showed a diagnostic accuracy of 100%. Pregnant women had a longer operating time (p = 0.006), a higher rate of open appendectomies or conversion (p < 0.001) and a longer postoperative hospital stay (3.2 days vs. 2.2 days, p < 0.001). The perforation rate was also higher in pregnant women at 16% vs. 10% (p = 0.048).ConclusionThe diagnosis of acute appendicitis during pregnancy presents a challenge for the clinician. Our data confirm the paradigm of “atypical presentation” which should lead to an extended diagnostic workup. Ultrasound showed less diagnostic accuracy in pregnant women in our study. MRI is a useful tool to reduce uncertainty and the rate of negative appendectomies.

Efficacy of automated machine learning models and feature engineering for diagnosis of equivocal appendicitis using clinical and computed tomography findings

This study evaluates the diagnostic efficacy of automated machine learning (AutoGluon) with automated feature engineering and selection (autofeat), focusing on clinical manifestations, and a model integrating both clinical manifestations and CT findings in adult patients with ambiguous computed tomography (CT) results for acute appendicitis (AA). This evaluation was compared with conventional single machine learning models such as logistic regression(LR) and established scoring systems such as the Adult Appendicitis Score(AAS) to address the gap in diagnostic approaches for uncertain AA cases. In this retrospective analysis of 303 adult patients with indeterminate CT findings, the cohort was divided into appendicitis (n = 115) and non-appendicitis (n = 188) groups. AutoGluon and autofeat were used for AA prediction. The AutoGluon-clinical model relied solely on clinical data, whereas the AutoGluon-clinical-CT model included both clinical and CT data. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and other metrics for the test dataset, namely accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and F1 score, were used to compare AutoGluon models with single machine learning models and the AAS. The single ML models in this study were LR, LASSO regression, ridge regression, support vector machine, decision tree, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting. Feature importance values were extracted using the “feature_importance” attribute from AutoGluon. The AutoGluon-clinical model demonstrated an AUROC of 0.785 (95% CI 0.691–0.890), and the ridge regression model with only clinical data revealed an AUROC of 0.755 (95% CI 0.649–0.861). The AutoGluon-clinical-CT model (AUROC 0.886 with 95% CI 0.820–0.951) performed better than the ridge model using clinical and CT data (AUROC 0.852 with 95% CI 0.774–0.930, p = 0.029). A new feature, exp(-(duration from pain to CT)3 + rebound tenderness), was identified (importance = 0.049, p = 0.001). AutoML (AutoGluon) and autoFE (autofeat) enhanced the diagnosis of uncertain AA cases, particularly when combining CT and clinical findings. This study suggests the potential of integrating AutoML and autoFE in clinical settings to improve diagnostic strategies and patient outcomes and make more efficient use of healthcare resources. Moreover, this research supports further exploration of machine learning in diagnostic processes.

Uncomplicated appendicitis at Herat Regional Hospital: limited resource is not always the end of the world.

Acute appendicitis is the most common aetiology of acute abdomen in children. Our aim is to describe the accuracy of diagnosis, and complications in a limited resources setting in children between 5 and 14 years old at the only tertiary referral hospital in the West region of Afghanistan. A retrospective study for a period of 1 year (21 March 2015-20 March 2016). Data was collected from patients' files. Data were analysed by epi info 7. We identified 774 children who had appendectomies at Herat Regional Hospital during the study period with complete records available for analysis. The median age was 11 years [5-14]. The rate of positive appendectomy was 87%. 72% of appendectomies were done within 24 h of the onset of symptoms. Of 675 positive appendectomies, the most common clinical features were migratory abdominal pain (90%), nausea/vomiting (80%), RLQ tenderness (90%), and rebound tenderness (81%). Among the 99 negative appendectomies, the most common signs and symptoms were anorexia 68%, nausea/vomiting 59%, RLQ tenderness 79%, and rebound tenderness 43%. 98% of positive and 71% of negative appendectomies had elevated WBC count. Post appendectomy complications occurred in 9% of our patients mostly commonly intra-abdominal abscesses (5%). Although the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is challenging in children and may involve sophisticated imaging techniques, in many settings these are unavailable. Classical manifestations such as migratory abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, nausea, and simple lab tests play a crucial role in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in low resource environments.

Evaluating Pediatric Appendicitis Score and Alvarado Scoring System for Detecting Acute Appendicitis in Pediatric Population

Abstract Background Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical condition of children. About 1 to 10% of children presenting in surgical emergencies with acute abdomen fall within the domain of acute appendicitis. In few of these cases, clinical signs and symptoms at presentation are such that acute appendicitis is a clear diagnosis while more often it is challenging for a surgeon to make a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. In these circumstances, explorations reveal negative appendectomies and an organ with potential functions can be lost. Objective To evaluate the Pediatric Appendicitis Score and Alvarado Scoring System in Detecting Acute Appendicitis in Pediatric Population in terms of applicability, safety, and specificity in the diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis among the study group and to suggest improvements and/or modifications to increase the predictive values of Pediatric Appendicitis Score and Alvarado Scoring System, decrease the rates of false diagnosis or reduce costs. Methods a prospective cohort study that was conducted on 50 patients aged under 14 years admitted to pediatric surgery department in Ain Shams University Hospital within a period of 6 months with an expected diagnosis of Acute appendicitis. Each patient was subjected to a detailed medical history taking (with emphasis on The age, gender, duration of pain, complaint complaints ofabdominal pain and duration, fever, nausea-vomiting, diarrhea or constipation), Clinical examination:(right lower quadrant sensitivity,defense, rebound tenderness, percussion/ cough/ right lower quadrant sensitivity with jumping). Laboratory investigations:(complete blood count, the total white blood cell (WBC) and total neutrophil counts c-reactive protein ) and Ultrasound examination. Alvarado score as well as PAS were calculated for each patient . the results were then compared to the intra operative findings confirming or excluding the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Results in the study group that was 38% males and 62% females with ages ranging from 3 to 14 years .Pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) was found to significantly predict acute appendicitis in the studied patients at cutoff 5.0 with sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV was 60.5%, 100%, 100% and 71.9% respectively (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Alvarado score can significantly predict acute appendicitis in the studied patients at cutoff 4.0 with sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV was 79.1%, 85.7%, 84.7% and 80.4% respectively (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusion The results of this study showed the higher sensitivity of Alvarado score and more specificity of the Pediatric Appendicitis score. However, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of these criteria were not considered enough to confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis alone. There is a need for new parameters in the scoring systems. Such as including ultrasonagraphic findings and additional laboratory investigations such as CRP.

Diaphragmatic Herniation with Pneumothorax Due to Barotrauma – Lessons to Learn: A Case Report

Diaphragmatic hernia is usually congenital or follows thoracoabdominal injury. Diaphragmatic hernia combined with pneumothorax is a rare combination in the clinical setting, where pneumothorax is usually secondary to hollow viscera perforation in the long-term complications of diaphragmatic herniation or rupture of ectopic endometrium over the diaphragm during menstruation. Unlike the aforementioned conditions, we describe a 67-year-old man with chronic diaphragmatic hernia who suffered from pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum secondary to pulmonary bulla by barotrauma during mechanical ventilation. Computed tomography showed scattered free gas in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, while there was no tenderness and rebound tenderness. The patient was managed conservatively with low PEEP and a lung-protective mechanical ventilation strategy. Finally, the oxygenation index gradually rose from 58 to 107. Unfortunately, in light of the patient’s poor clinical status and significant comorbidities, the patient passed away peacefully 3 weeks after hospital admission. Diaphragmatic hernia combined with pneumothorax should be differentiated from tension pneumothorax. Whether to intubate chest drainage depends on the cause of pneumothorax and pneumoperitoneum, as well as the risks and benefits of chest drainage. Additionally, mechanical ventilation should be applied cautiously, and respiratory parameters should be adjusted reasonably in patients at high risk of pneumothorax.

Mucinous carcinoma of the appendix: a case report

Mucinous carcinoma of the appendix is ​​​​a rare malignant tumor of the appendix. Incidence ranges about 0.01-0.2% in cases of malignancy in the gastrointestinal tract. Clinically, the symptoms appear to resemble acute appendicitis. The diagnosis was established at intraoperative time. Studies on this case are still few. A 69-year-old man complained of lower right abdominal pain since 6 days before going to Sanjiwani hospital. The patient also complained of fever, nausea, decreased appetite and constipation. Examination results temperature 37.6 0C, McBurney sign (+), rebound tenderness (+), localized defense on lower right abdomen. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen with an impression of the end tubular structure, a peristaltic diameter of 0.87 cm accompanied by a fluid collection, suspicious of appendicitis with perforation. Inflamed appendix and localized mucin were found at ileocaecal junction intraoperatively. The patient underwent a right hemicolectomy. Histopathological examination revealed a morphological picture suitable for mucinous carcinoma of the appendix. Mucinous carcinoma of the appendix is ​​​​a rare malignant tumor of appendix. Patients can have the same symptoms as appendicitis. Ultrasound investigations can find a picture like appendicitis. Mucinous carcinoma of the appendix is ​​more frequently found intraoperatively. Histopathological examination is necessary to determine a definitive diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma of the appendix. In high grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (HAMN) a right hemicolectomy can be performed and continued with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Interventional Intensive Care in Postoperative Period of Gastric Surgical Repair Due to Perforated Peptic Ulcer Disease : A Case Report

Introduction: Perforated peptic ulcer is the most common indication for emergency gastric surgery. good management of postoperative peptic ulcer perforation patients in the ICU will reduce patient mortality rates. Case presentation A 76-year-old male patient presented with a major complaint of pain throughout the abdomen that had worsened since 1 day, the abdominal pain had been felt for 4 days before admission. The patient had a history of painkiller drug consumption routinely for 3 years. The patient’s vital signs were normal, with a qSOFA score 1 and a VAS score 5. Abdominal physical examination showed the abdominal distended, no visible contour and no visible peristaltic, decreased bowel sound, and there is tenderness and rebound tenderness at the whole abdomen Patient was taken up for emergency laparostomy, then the patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopic in an elective setting with intraoperative findings of gastric perforation, then patient continued with the gastric repair. In the postoperative period, the patient was treated in the ICU of Dr. M. Djamil General Hospital. Conclusion: Intensive care management for post-gastric repair surgery patients is generally the same as for other abdominal surgery patients. The intensive care management needs comprehensive treatment, starting from oxygen therapy, monitoring, analgesia, fluid therapy, antibiotic therapy, glycemic control, and nasogastric tube nutrition.

Behind the Pain: Recognizing The Warning Signs Of Acute Appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is a surgical emergency and one of the most common cause if acute abdominal pain. Appendicitis means inflammation of vermiform appendix. Common age group is 10 -20 years. Causes of appendicitis include obstruction of its lumen with fecolith, calculi, infection and lack of dietary fiber. Clinical presentation vary thus called chameleon of surgery .Typical feature include periumblical pain that migrates to right iliac fossa over the next 24 hours accompanied by nausea ,anorexia and vomiting. Typical features were first described by Murphy and are present in 50 percent of the cases.Atypical symptoms include diarrhea,constipation,urinary tract infection. Pregnant women feel pain in the upper abdomen due to displacement of appendix by uterus. It can be classified as un complicated which means inflammation with abscess formation and complicated that means appendix is inflammed along with abcess formation and peri appendiceal phelgmon.Clinical signs include elevated temprature and rebound tenderness. Physical examination includes a postive rovsing sign, obturator sign, obturator sign or psoas sign. Alvardo scoring system is one the few scoring systems used to diagnose a case of suspected appendicitis. Total score is 10.A score of 7-10 indicated surgical intervention. Among the imaging modalities usg abdomen is the first choice but CT abdomen is superior to it because of its increased sensitivity and specificity. Laproscopic appendectomy is most effective surgical intervention. Uncomplicated cases can be treated with piperacillin tazobactam. Complicated cases can be treated with combination antibiotics cephalosporin combined with flouroquinolones or metronidazole.

Obstruction of Small Bowel due to Strangulated Obturator Hernia: Case Report

Introduction: Obturator hernia is one of the rare types of hernia and the important cause of small intestine obstruction. It mostly occurs in elderly people and women. This disease is challenging to diagnose and has a high mortality rate. Cese Presentation: In this study, two patients are introduced. The first patient was a 95-year-old woman who came with symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction, nausea, bilious vomiting, as well as lack of gas and stool excretion. There was no suspicious pathological examination. The computed tomography (CT) scan was performed for the patient with the report of the left Obturator hernia. The second case is an 88-year-old woman with a history of neurological problems and symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction, who had tenderness and rebound tenderness of the right lower quadrant of the abdomen during the examination. Since imaging findings were normal, the CT scan was performed for the patient, and the report was in favor of the right obturator hernia. Both patients underwent surgery with a midline incision of the abdomen. The small intestine was gangrenous at the hernia site and did not have proper peristalsis. Therefore, she underwent resection and anastomosis of the small intestine and repair of the obturator hernia. Conclusion: Obturator hernia is a rare but significant cause of intestinal obstruction, especially in emaciated elderly women. The diagnosis of this disease is challenging for doctors. One of the appropriate methods for diagnosing this disease is a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis, and the only treatment method is surgery.

Prediction of injury localization in preoperative patients with gastrointestinal perforation: a multiomics model analysis

BackgroundThe location of gastrointestinal perforation is essential for severity evaluation and optimizing the treatment approach. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and imaging features of patients with gastrointestinal perforation and construct a predictive model to distinguish the location of upper and lower gastrointestinal perforation.MethodsA total of 367 patients with gastrointestinal perforation admitted to the department of emergency surgery in Fujian Medical University Union Hospital between March 2014 and December 2020 were collected. Patients were randomly divided into training set and test set in a ratio of 7:3 to establish and verify the prediction model by logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration map, and clinical decision curve were used to evaluate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability of the prediction model, respectively. The multiomics model was validated by stratification analysis in the prediction of severity and prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal perforation.ResultsThe following variables were identified as independent predictors in lower gastrointestinal perforation: monocyte absolute value, mean platelet volume, albumin, fibrinogen, pain duration, rebound tenderness, free air in peritoneal cavity by univariate logistic regression analysis and stepwise regression analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the prediction model was 0.886 (95% confidence interval, 0.840–0.933). The calibration curve shows that the prediction accuracy and the calibration ability of the prediction model are effective. Meanwhile, the decision curve results show that the net benefits of the training and test sets are greater than those of the two extreme models as the threshold probability is 20–100%. The multiomics model score can be calculated via nomogram. The higher the stratification of risk score array, the higher the number of transferred patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe developed multiomics model including monocyte absolute value, mean platelet volume, albumin, fibrinogen, pain duration, rebound tenderness, and free air in the peritoneal cavity has good discrimination and calibration. This model can assist surgeons in distinguishing between upper and lower gastrointestinal perforation and to assess the severity of the condition.

Assessing Abdominal Examination Skills in a Surgery Clerkship Standardized Patient Encounter for Curriculum Improvement.

Standardized patient (SP) encounters allow medical students to practice physical examination skills and clinical reasoning. SP cases are used for learning and assessment, but recorded encounters can also be valuable curriculum evaluation tools. We aimed to review SP encounters to improve abdominal examination skills and the broader physical examination curriculum. We reviewed recorded SP encounters of third-year medical students on surgery clerkship rotation. Students examined a cisgender woman presenting with acute right lower abdominal pain. We observed abdominal examinations to determine which maneuvers were attempted and completed correctly. We then used these outcomes to develop targeted clerkship training for the subsequent student cohort. Our intervention targeted abdominal examination gaps by explaining how to integrate abdominal examination findings with a focused history for surgical patients. We evaluated the intervention's impact on abdominal examination skills with third-year medical students in comparison (2021-2022, n = 119) and intervention (2022-2023, n = 132) groups. In both the comparison and intervention groups, nearly all students attempted at least 1 general examination maneuver like auscultation, palpation, percussion, or rebound tenderness. Only 40% of students in the comparison group attempted an advanced maneuver like the Rovsing, Psoas, or Obturator sign. After the intervention, 75% of students in the intervention group attempted an advanced maneuver (χ2(1, 251) = 31.0, p < .001). Cohorts did not gain skills over time through the clerkship. Rebound tenderness was frequently assessed incorrectly by students in both groups, with many avoiding the right lower quadrant entirely. This project highlights how medical students struggle to utilize abdominal examination maneuvers and integrate findings. The results also showed that students did not consistently learn advanced examination skills either before or during clerkship rotation, which may be commonly assumed by clinical faculty. Finally, this work demonstrates how SP encounters can be used to evaluate and improve surgical education curriculum.

Rare case of spontaneous duodeno-colic fistula.

A 48-year-old woman presented to the outpatient clinic with a 4-month history of alternating diarrhea and constipation with bloating. Physical examination revealed a body mass index of 22.89 kg/m², normal development, and no tenderness or rebound tenderness in the abdomen. The patient has maintained a stable body size since birth, with a previously healthy status and no history of abdominal surgery or trauma. Endoscopic examination revealed an abnormal channel between the posterior wall of the duodenal bulb to the hepatic flexure of the colon. The patient was managed with conservative treatment, including acid suppression and modulation of the gut microbiota, and was closely monitored. Surgical intervention would only be considered in the event of severe symptoms or complications. Over a five-month follow-up period, the patient's symptoms improved.

To evaluate the efficacy of the Alvarado scoring system as a preoperative diagnostic tool in acute appendicitis in relation to operative and histopathological findings

Background: Appendicitis is expected to occur in about 6% of people during their lifetime. The most useful diagnostic techniques are still routine medical history and examination; Post surgery, after the specimen has been examined histopathologically, the final diagnosis is achievable. Systems of scoring are useful and valid for separating acute appendicitis from generalized abdominal pain and can help reduce unwanted surgery, particularly in remote areas. Aims: 1. To evaluate the efficacy of the Alvarado scoring system as a preoperative diagnostic tool in acute appendicitis, in relation to operative and histopathological findings. 2. To determine the role of the Alvarado scoring system in cutting down the rate of negative appendicectomy without increasing morbidity and mortality. 3. To know the specificity and sensitivity of the Alvarado scoring system in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methods: A prospective study of 50 patients who presented with symptoms and signs of acute appendicitis and suspected enough to warrant surgery for acute appendicitis admitted in DR. PSIMS &amp; RF under various surgical units from November 2018 to October 2020 were selected. Results: In our study, migratory pain was noted in 80% of patients in this study. In this study, anorexia was noted in 60% of cases, rebound tenderness was found in 82% of cases, 37% of cases with a fever over 99°F had appendicitis, 80% of patients had leukocytosis, and leukocyte shift to the left was observed. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) were 77.2%, 66.6%, and 94.4% in this study. Conclusion: This study concluded that the Alvarado score is a reliable, cheap, and reproducible tool for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the emergency room.

Intra-abdominal hemorrhage from an ileocolic vessel as a complication of acute appendicitis perforation

This is an extremely rare complicated presentation of acute appendicitis perforation, which was accompanied by an intra-abdominal hemorrhage from an ileocolic vessel. A 61-year-old man visited an emergency department complaining of abdominal pain. Tenderness &amp; rebound tenderness at the right lower quadrant and muscle guarding were noticed. Computed tomography showed perforated appendicitis with peritonitis. Also, an intra-abdominal hemorrhage of the ileocolic vessel was suggested. An emergent laparoscopic exploration was performed and found a gangrenous retrocecal appendix, peri-lesional adhesion, and substantial hematoma. Finally, a partial cecectomy was performed. A pathologic test confirmed the acute gangrenous appendicitis. Physicians should be aware that appendicitis could complicate an intra-abdominal hemorrhage even though it is extremely rare.ackground.

Primary segmental omental torsion, mimicking acute appendicitis.

Primary segmental omental torsion (PSOT) is a very rare cause of acute abdominal pain, and it may often imitate the clinical picture of acute appendicitis. In instances of acute abdominal pain without anorexia, nausea, and vomiting, omental torsion should be included in the differential diagnosis. Any misdiagnosis may lead to major complications such as intraabdominal abscesses and adhesions. A 63-year-old overweight man with a body mass index (BMI) of 41 Kg/m2 presented to the emergency department on a remote island with acute abdominal pain. His medical history included type 2 diabetes mellitus managed with insulin, essential hypertension, osteoarthritis, and no previous abdominal operations. He reported a sharp pain originating in the epigastrium and the right hypochondrium that started five days prior. Physical examination revealed rebound tenderness and guarding across the abdomen with a positive McBurney sign. However, the patient did not report vomiting and was not nauseous. Vital signs were as follows: blood pressure 116/56 mmHg, heart rate 98 beats/min, respiratory rate 19 breaths/min, and a temperature of 38.2 0C. Laboratory results showed a white blood cell count of 10.6, neutrophils of 8.11, C-reactive protein (CRP) 74 mg/l, haemoglobin11.6 g/dl, and hematocrit 36.9%. Due to the absence of a radiographer at the hospital during that period, no imaging investigations were conducted. Diagnostic laparoscopy demonstrated diffused hemoperitoneum and necrotic mass at the site of the hepatic flexure. Initially suspected to be an advanced colon cancer, the decision was made to proceed with open surgery. The necrotic segment of the omentum was found at the right superior point of attachment of the omentum to the hepatic flexure. Consequently, the necrotic segment of the omentum was resected. A thorough investigation of the abdominal cavity did not detect any other abnormalities or pathologies. The patient recovered uneventfully and was transferred to the surgical ward. Torsion of the omentum is a very rare cause of acute abdominal pain. This case highlights the necessity of considering PSOT in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain, especially in cases where symptoms are suggestive of appendicitis but diagnostic findings are negative.

APPENDICITIS INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SCORE FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS AS COMPARED TO ALVARADO SCORE

Background: Acute appendicitis was first described by Reginald. H. Fitz in 1886. It is the most frequent cause of acute abdominal pain requiring surgical intervention. Annually appendectomy is the most common abdominal operation performed on emergency basis. Lifetime risk for developing acute appendicitis is 8.6% in men and 6.7% in women. Acute Appendicitis inciting event in most instances is obstruction of the appendix lumen. Acute Appendicitis is classified as catarrhal phlegmonus, gangrenous and perforated. This classification describes the evolutionary stage of disease. Acute appendicitis is more of a clinical diagnosis present as pain abdomen with classical migration from peri-umbilical region to right iliac fossa in 75% of patient nausea and anorexia. Clinical signs are mostly pyrexia, localized tenderness in the right iliac fossa, muscle guarding and rebound tenderness. Laboratory and radiological investigation are also important tool for the diagnosis. Scoring system have been designed to aid in the clinical assessment of patient with acute appendicitis. The most used scoring is the Alvarado score is best performing in validation studies. Alvarado score doesnt incorporate C reactive protein as a variable, many studies shows the importance of C reactive protein in assessment of patient with appendicitis. Objective: Appendicitis Inflammatory Response score as a diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis in our hospital setting. Study design: A Prospective Study. Study period: October 2016 – September 2018. Study setting: Department of General Surgery, Justice K. S. Hegde charitable hospital. Study population: Patients admitted with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis at Justice K.S. Hegde charitable Hospital, Mangalore. Sample size: 123 patients using epiinfo software for diagnostic test with PPV 64% with article reference (12) confidence interval of 95% and power of study at 80%. Study group: Patients clinically diagnosed with acute appendicitis and giving consent for the study. Methodology: The present study was conducted in the Department of General surgery, Justice K.S. Hegde charitable Hospital Mangalore, in 123 patients, of any age, who were admitted with complaint of acute appendicitis. Patients included in the study were finally correlate with the histopathological report. Result: The maximum patients were in the age group of 11-20 year compromising around 30.9%. Most of the patients were female around 56.1%. Histopathological report showed around 82.1% as Acute appendicitis, 6.5% acute on chronic, recurrent appendicitis 8.9%, chronic appendicitis, granulomatous appendicitis &amp; lymphoid hyperplasia of appendix were .8% each. AIR classified around 46.3% in low probability, 48% indeterminate and 5.7% in high probability group. Alvarado classified around 3.3% in unlikely, 51.2% in possible diagnosis, 37.4% acute and 8.1% in definite group. On spearman correlation coefficient there was found to be a strong positive correlation between both the scoring system and statistically significant p value of 0.0001. AIR score showed a sensitivity of 56.44% and specificity of 59.09% at score &gt;4. Alvarado had a sensitivity of 98.02 % and specificity of 9.09% at score &gt;4. Alvarado and AIR showed 9.90% and 6.93% at score &gt;8 respectively. The specificity of Alvarado and AIR was 100% respectively. The AIR at a low and higher score had a high PPV and NPV, that may help in correctly diagnosing the patient with acute appendicitis and ruling out from non- appendicitis patient. Conclusion: 1. Alvarado score is better diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis as compared to the AIR score. 2. Alvarado score has higher sensitivity in score of &gt;4 as compared to AIR. 3. AIR score with low sensitivity has low discriminatory power in ruling out patient with acute appendicitis.

Difficulties in using simulation to assess abdominal palpation skills

ObjectivesAbdominal palpation is an essential examination to diagnose various digestive system diseases. This study aimed to develop an objective and standardized test based on abdominal palpation simulators, and establish a credible pass/fail standard of basic competency.MethodsTwo tests were designed using the newly developed Jucheng abdominal palpation simulator (test 1) and the AbSim simulator (test 2), respectively. Validity evidence for both tests was gathered according to Messick’s contemporary framework by using experts to define test content and then administering the tests in a highly standardized way to participants of different experience. Different simulator setups modified by the built-in software were selected from hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, positive McBurney’s sign plus rebound tenderness, gallbladder tenderness (Murphy’s sign), pancreas tenderness, and a normal setup without pathologies, with six sets used in test 1 and five sets used in test 2. Different novices and experienced were included in the tests, and test 1 was also administered to an intermediate group. Scores and test time were collected and analyzed statistically.ResultsThe internal consistency reliability of test 1 and test 2 showed low Cronbach’s alphas of 0.35 and -0.41, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha for palpation time across cases were 0.65 for test 1 and 0.76 for test 2. There was no statistical difference in total time spent and total scores among the three groups in test 1 (P-values (ANOVA) were 0.53 and 0.35 respectively), nor between novices and experienced groups in test 2 (P-values (t-test) were 0.13 and 1.0 respectively). It was not relevant to try to establish pass/fail standards due to the low reliability and lack of discriminatory ability of the tests.ConclusionsIt was not possible to measure abdominal palpation skills in a valid way using either of the two standardized, simulation-based tests in our study. Assessment of the patient’s abdomen using palpation is a challenging clinical skill that is difficult to simulate as it highly relies on tactile sensations and adequate responsiveness from the patients.

The Efficacy of Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score in Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common cause of acute abdominal pain. The management of suspected appendicitis represents a prime target for improved decision-making in emergency surgical care (OPD, Emergency room). The aim of the work is to evaluate the appendicitis inflammatory response (AIR) score and compare its performance in predicting the risk of appendicitis to the Alvarado score. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the AIR score and potential benefits of risk stratification to guide clinical decision making. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the OPD and Emergency department, Sir Salimullah Medical College &amp; Mitford Hospital, Dhaka. From June’2021 to May’2022. A total 240 patients with right lower abdominal pain. History, clinical examination, hematological, radiological investigations were done. AIR score was calculated. Considering histopathology report as gold standard the score was compared. Histopathology report was done in Pathology Department of SSMC, Dhaka. Results: Right iliac fossa pain (100%) was the most common symptom, followed by vomiting (58.3%), temperature (29.5%), and rebound tenderness. After applying AIR scorings, 44(18.3%) patients in low-risk group (0-4), 112(46.7%) patients in the intermediate risk group (5-8) and 84(35.0%) patients in the high-risk category (9-12). Amongst the 240 applying the AIR score, Sensitivity of inflammatory response score vs histopathology findings was 97.9%, specificity 78.4%, accuracy 93.8%, positive and negative predictive values were 94.4% and 90.9% respectively. Conclusion: Risk stratification of patients with suspected appendicitis by the AIR score could guide decision-making to reduce admissions, length of hospital stay, cost and case fatality rate, optimize utility of diagnostic imaging and to decrease negative exploration. Sir Salimullah Med Coll J 2023; 31: 47-52

A Case of Torsion in an Otherwise-Normal Ovary in a 22-years old nulliparous women: Utilization of Diagnostic Laparoscopy for the Accurate Diagnosis

Ovarian torsion can be seen in the otherwise-normal ovary and is a challenging issue in the emergency department. Definitive diagnosis is sometimes difficult to establish because of clinical symptoms similar to other abdominal diseases. We report a 22-year-old woman, nullipara, with acute lower right abdominal pain for 14 hours before coming to an emergency room. On examination, the abdomen was soft but tender over the right iliac fossa and rebound tenderness were present.Ultrasound radiological examination showed that the right ovary is grossly enlarged (volume- 98.4cc) with hyperechoic central stoma. On colour, doppler twisted pedicel was noted. Mild collection is also seen in the pouch of Doglus. During laparoscopy, we found a blackish-red cystic mass of about 12 × 11 cm experiencing torsion. Then salpingooophorectomy was done. This is an interesting case of torsion in an otherwise-normal ovary with a huge hematosalpinx. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2023; 41(4): 342-347