Summary
Indication and usefulness of ultrasonography for suspected acute appendicitis at the emergency department
Pintado Garrido R, Moya De La Calle M, Sánchez Ramón S, Castro Villamor MA, Plaza Loma S, Mendo González M
Affiliation of the authors
Radiodiagnosis Department. Emergency Department. Río Hortera University Hospital. Valladolid, Spain.
DOI
Quote
Pintado Garrido R, Moya De La Calle M, Sánchez Ramón S, Castro Villamor MA, Plaza Loma S, Mendo González M. Indication and usefulness of ultrasonography for suspected acute appendicitis at the emergency department. Emergencias. 2008;20:81-6
Summary
Background: Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain and
subsequent surgery. For that reason the diagnosis of this condition is a cause of big
concern in emergency departments.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of ultrasonography
in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
Methods: Retrospective study which included patients presented in the emergency department
with abdominal pain of suspected acute abdominal disorder origin and remitted
to undergone ultrasonography to rule out appendicitis from January to July
2004.
Results: Among 2015 ultrasonography scans 296 were performed to exclude a diagnosis
of acute appendicitis. 288 could be interpreted and the diagnosis of acute appendicitis
was established in 52. In 15 cases the ultrasonography and the definite diagnosis
differed. Ultrasonography and surgical diagnosis were different in 6 patients. In 9 patients
the ultrasonography was not diagnostic. Ultrasound sensitivity, specificity, positive
predictive value, and negative predictive value were 83.7%, 97.4%, 87.7% and
96.2%, respectively.
Conclusions: The global cost-effectiveness of ultrasonography to diagnose appendicitis
is good. Due to its availability and its low cost, ultrasonography is an accurate test for
the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in emergency departments, specially in uncertain
cases.