Suspicion of acute appendicitis in adults. The value of ultrasound in our hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults, to calculate the negative appendicectomy rate in operated patients and the accuracy of pre-defined diagnostic categories and to identify statistically significant signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis in ultrasonography.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Descriptive prospective study in which we collected the findings of the urgent ultrasonographies ordered in a one-year period for adult patients with pain in the right iliac fossa (RIF), along with their symptoms. We classified them in 5 different diagnostic categories presented in the radiological report: normal appendix, non-visible appendix and no secondary signs, non-conclusive, probable appendicitis, certain appendicitis. By mean of the Stata14 software descriptive analysis, T-test and Chi-square were performed and the data were compared with the final pathological report.

RESULTS

Population: 139 patients (45% men, 55% women), mean age: 32,68 (15-84). Prevalence of acute appendicitis: 50,35% (70/139). Negative appendicectomy rate: 0%. Negative predictive value for the categories 1,2 and 3 taken together: 90,78%. Positive predictive value for the categories 4 and 5 taken together: 100%. Ultrasound sensibility and specificity 90% and 100%, respectively. Statistically significant signs and symptoms (p<0.05): RIF pain, fever, leukocytosis, left shift, visible appendix, non-compressibility, hyperechogenic fat, appendicolith and free fluid.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound is very accurate for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adults.