PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to validate a clinical scoring system for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in childhood. METHODS: The authors retrospectively applied a clinical scoring system on 197 consecutive pediatric patients operated on for acute appendicitis. They therefore looked for a correlation between the management suggested by the scoring system and pathologic diagnosis on surgical specimens. RESULTS: Based on final pathologic specimen, surgery has been performed unnecessarily in 23% of cases. The proposed scoring system could have reduced unnecessary surgery to 2%. Only 8% of patients with acute appendicitis would have been discharged home. Sensitivity and specificity of the scoring system used in this study was 87% and 86%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The clinical scoring system proposed in this study could be of help in early clinical diagnosis of appendicitis to reduce the rate of unnecessary emergency surgery.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to validate a clinical scoring system for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in childhood. METHODS: The authors retrospectively applied a clinical scoring system on 197 consecutive pediatric patients operated on for acute appendicitis. They therefore looked for a correlation between the management suggested by the scoring system and pathologic diagnosis on surgical specimens. RESULTS: Based on final pathologic specimen, surgery has been performed unnecessarily in 23% of cases. The proposed scoring system could have reduced unnecessary surgery to 2%. Only 8% of patients with acute appendicitis would have been discharged home. Sensitivity and specificity of the scoring system used in this study was 87% and 86%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The clinical scoring system proposed in this study could be of help in early clinical diagnosis of appendicitis to reduce the rate of unnecessary emergency surgery.
Authors: Meera Kotagal; Morgan K Richards; David R Flum; Stephanie P Acierno; Robert L Weinsheimer; Adam B Goldin Journal: J Pediatr Surg Date: 2014-12-06 Impact factor: 2.545
Authors: David G Bundy; Julie S Byerley; E Allen Liles; Eliana M Perrin; Jessica Katznelson; Henry E Rice Journal: JAMA Date: 2007-07-25 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Abu N G A Khan; Abdel Sawan; Antonios Likourezos; Mark Schnellinger; Estavan Garcia Journal: Emerg Med Int Date: 2012-12-05 Impact factor: 1.112