BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) and total leucocyte count (WBC) in suspected acute appendicitis analysed only on admission gave valuable information to guide the surgeon. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of CRP and WBC measured repetitively before operation. METHODS: During a 1-year period 227 patients were studied before emergency appendicectomy. CRP and WBC were analysed every 4th h. The upper limits of the reference intervals used were 9.0 x 10(9)/l for WBC and 10 mg/l for CRP. RESULTS: Of the 227 appendicectomized patients, 170 (75%) had acute appendicitis. Sixty-six of the patients were tested on two or more occasions every 4th h. Forty-six of these patients had appendicitis; repetitive tests showed a continuing rise in CRP values but a continuing decrease in WBC. The negative appendicectomy rate among these 66 patients was 30%, which theoretically would have fallen to 19% if patients with normal results had not been subjected to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated laboratory tests for CRP and WBC should be performed in patients with suspected acute appendicitis requested to stay for further observation. If these test results are normal, the surgeon should preferably refrain from operating but consider other differential diagnoses.
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) and total leucocyte count (WBC) in suspected acute appendicitis analysed only on admission gave valuable information to guide the surgeon. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of CRP and WBC measured repetitively before operation. METHODS: During a 1-year period 227 patients were studied before emergency appendicectomy. CRP and WBC were analysed every 4th h. The upper limits of the reference intervals used were 9.0 x 10(9)/l for WBC and 10 mg/l for CRP. RESULTS: Of the 227 appendicectomized patients, 170 (75%) had acute appendicitis. Sixty-six of the patients were tested on two or more occasions every 4th h. Forty-six of these patients had appendicitis; repetitive tests showed a continuing rise in CRP values but a continuing decrease in WBC. The negative appendicectomy rate among these 66 patients was 30%, which theoretically would have fallen to 19% if patients with normal results had not been subjected to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated laboratory tests for CRP and WBC should be performed in patients with suspected acute appendicitis requested to stay for further observation. If these test results are normal, the surgeon should preferably refrain from operating but consider other differential diagnoses.
Authors: Johan Styrud; Staffan Eriksson; Ingemar Nilsson; Gunnar Ahlberg; Staffan Haapaniemi; Gunnar Neovius; Lars Rex; Ibrahim Badume; Lars Granström Journal: World J Surg Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Eleanor K Mathews; Russell L Griffin; Vincent Mortellaro; Elizabeth A Beierle; Carroll M Harmon; Mike K Chen; Robert T Russell Journal: J Surg Res Date: 2014-04-12 Impact factor: 2.192
Authors: Pablo Ortega-Deballon; Juan C Ruiz de Adana-Belbel; Alberto Hernández-Matías; Javier García-Septiem; Mariano Moreno-Azcoita Journal: Dis Colon Rectum Date: 2008-05-17 Impact factor: 4.585