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Uppal R, Muntean C, Raio C, Borowski H, Kalin C, Emanuel J, Klein LR. Ultrasound Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Pediatrics: A Community Hospital Network Experience. Cureus 2025; 17:e82854. [PMID: 40416272 PMCID: PMC12102651 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.82854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2025] [Indexed: 05/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Ultrasound has emerged as the preferred initial imaging modality for diagnosing acute appendicitis in children, but most data supporting its use come from academic children's medical centers. The purpose of this investigation is to describe ultrasound utilization for diagnosing acute appendicitis in children at a large community hospital network. Methods This was a multicenter retrospective observational cohort study and chart review of pediatric patients with acute appendicitis diagnosed in the emergency department (ED). The primary outcome of this study was the proportion of patients diagnosed with ultrasound as the sole imaging modality, presented as a population proportion with a 95% confidence interval. Results There were 450 patients included. The mean age was 10 years (range 3-17). Among the 450 patients, there were a total of 713 imaging studies. Only 213 (47.3%) patients had a single imaging test ordered during the ED encounter, and only 52 patients (11.6%) had an ultrasound during the encounter as the only imaging modality. The initial study ordered was a CT scan in 184 (40.9%), an ultrasound in 172 (38.2%), and an X-ray in 94 (20.9%). Sixty-two of 172 (36.0%) ultrasounds were positive for appendicitis. Of the 62 positive studies, 11 (17.7%) had a confirmatory CT scan. Conclusion In this community hospital network, patients had multiple imaging modalities ordered to confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Less than half had an ultrasound ordered as the initial imaging modality, suggesting its use is not as widespread as academic data may indicate. Despite a positive diagnostic ultrasound, some patients went on to have a confirmatory CT scan, which provides further opportunity to improve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Uppal
- Emergency Medicine, Good Samaritan University Hospital, West Islip, USA
| | - Cornelia Muntean
- Emergency Medicine, Good Samaritan University Hospital, West Islip, USA
| | - Christopher Raio
- Emergency Medicine, Good Samaritan University Hospital, West Islip, USA
| | - Halina Borowski
- Emergency Medicine, Good Samaritan University Hospital, West Islip, USA
| | - Cameron Kalin
- Emergency Medicine, Good Samaritan University Hospital, West Islip, USA
| | - Jillian Emanuel
- Emergency Medicine, Good Samaritan University Hospital, West Islip, USA
| | - Lauren R Klein
- Emergency Medicine, Good Samaritan University Hospital, West Islip, USA
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Srinivas S, Svetanoff WJ, Kalsotra S, Rachwal B, Akbar T, Griffin KL, Su M, Kenney B, Van Arendonk K, Besner GE. Missed Opportunity for Initial Diagnosis in Children With Complex Appendicitis. Pediatr Emerg Care 2025; 41:291-296. [PMID: 39730146 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000003326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Delayed diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children may result in complex appendicitis with appendiceal perforation. Delayed diagnosis can result from missed opportunity for initial diagnosis (MOID) despite medical attention. Studies report MOID of less than 5% in pediatric emergency departments (EDs), but we hypothesized that many MOID occurs outside tertiary care facilities. Our goals were to determine the MOID rate in all presenting facilities in children with complex appendicitis and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS Children (age ≤18) undergoing appendectomy for complex appendicitis between 2018 and 2022 at a single free-standing academic children's hospital were reviewed. Missed opportunity for initial diagnosis was defined as evaluation for related symptoms without a diagnosis of appendicitis within 7 days prior to appendectomy. Logistic regression and UpSet plots were used to identify associated risk factors. RESULTS Of 856 children, 140 (16.4%) had MOID. Most MOID originated from nontertiary facilities [urgent care (38.6%), local EDs (26.4%), primary care (25.0%)] compared to our pediatric ED (11.4%). Compared to single-encounter diagnosis, MOID was associated with younger age (adjusted odds ratio per year [aOR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88-0.97) and non-English/Spanish primary language (aOR 2.61, 95% CI: 1.18-5.76). Uninsured patients had lower MOID (aOR 0.22, 95% CI: 0.05-0.96). Missed opportunity for initial diagnosis was associated with more complications (33.6% vs 19.1%, P < 0.0001), prolonged length of stay (6 vs 4 days, P < 0.0001), and increased readmission (11.4% vs 6.6%, P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS Missed opportunity for initial diagnosis of complex appendicitis occurs in nontertiary care facilities, is more common in younger children and non-English/Spanish speakers, and is associated with worse outcomes, highlighting the need for interpreters and algorithmic evaluation in nontertiary care facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sidhant Kalsotra
- Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital
| | - Brenna Rachwal
- Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital
| | - Taha Akbar
- Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital
| | | | - Madeline Su
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
| | - Brian Kenney
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital
| | | | - Gail E Besner
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital
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Salö M, Tiselius C, Rosemar A, Öst E, Sohlberg S, Andersson RE. Swedish national guidelines for diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis in adults and children. BJS Open 2025; 9:zrae165. [PMID: 40203150 PMCID: PMC11980984 DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrae165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2024] [Revised: 11/19/2024] [Accepted: 12/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain. Differences in the management of this large group of patients has important consequences for the patients and the healthcare system. Controversies regarding the understanding of the natural course of the disease, the utility of new diagnostic methods, and alternative treatments have lead to large variations in practice patterns between centres. These national guidelines present evidence-based recommendations aiming at a uniform, safe and cost-efficient management of this large group of patients. METHOD A working group of six experts with broad clinical and research experience was formed. Additional expertise from outside was consulted during the process. A national survey revealed significant variations in the management of patients with suspicion of appendicitis. The evidence provided in published guidelines and reviews were extracted and systematically graded, according to the GRADE methodology. This was supplemented by additional more recent and more directed search of the literature. Patients treated for appendicitis were involved through interviews. The guidelines were reviewed by external experts before the final version was determined. RESULTS The guidelines cover an extensive number of issues: pathology, epidemiology, aetiology, natural history, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, diagnostic scoring systems, diagnostic imaging, treatment, nursing care, follow-up, quality registers and quality indicators, among others. Special considerations related to children and pregnant women are covered. CONCLUSION These national guidelines present an extensive and thorough review of the current knowledge base related to appendicitis, and provide up-to-date evidence-based recommendations for the management of this large group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Salö
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Catarina Tiselius
- Department of Surgery, Västmanland Hospital Västerås, Västerås, Sweden
- Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Västerås, Sweden
| | - Anders Rosemar
- Department of Surgery, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elin Öst
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Sohlberg
- Department of Women´s and Children´s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Roland E Andersson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Futurum Academy for Health and Care, Jönköping County Council, Jönköping, Sweden
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Wu S, Gu F, Yu M, Zhu Z. Using a sum of the cross diameters of the appendix measured on ultrasonography as a criterion can more effectively predict acute appendicitis. Eur Radiol 2025; 35:1732-1742. [PMID: 39427022 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-024-11108-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether using a sum of the cross diameters on the transverse section of the appendix as a criterion can improve the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA). METHODS In this retrospective study, 433 patients with AA and 207 patients with a normal appendix were assigned to the training and validation groups in a proportion of 7:3. Each group was divided into subgroups consisting of patients with AA and a normal appendix. The training group included 144 patients with a normal appendix and 302 patients with AA, while the validation group comprised 63 patients with a normal appendix and 131 patients with AA. Graded compression ultrasound was performed to evaluate the appendix, and the cross diameters on the transverse section were measured, with one of them used as the maximum outer diameter (MOD). RESULTS The cut-off value of the sum of cross diameters for predicting AA was 13.5 mm or more. When it was applied to evaluate the appendix in the training group, a sensitivity of 98.7%, specificity of 99.3%, positive predictive value of 99.7%, negative predictive value of 97.3%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.990 were achieved. Which were significantly higher than those (except for a sensitivity of 99.3%) obtained using the criteria of MOD ≥ 6 mm. Similar results were obtained in the validation group. CONCLUSION Using a sum of cross diameters of the appendix of 13.5 mm or more as a criterion to diagnose AA can yield excellent diagnostic performance, and can replace the current criteria of MOD of 6 mm or more. KEY POINTS Question A MOD of the appendix ≥ 6 mm is a recommended criterion for diagnosing AA, but often results in a false-positive diagnosis. Findings Using the sum of the cross diameters of the appendix ≥ 13.5 mm as a criterion yielded significantly higher diagnostic performance than the recommended criteria. Clinical relevance The sum of the cross diameters of the appendix is a better criterion for the evaluation of patients with suspected AA, exhibiting significantly higher diagnostic performance than the MOD of the appendix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Size Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
| | - Fengwa Gu
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Mingxing Yu
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Zhixian Zhu
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
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Tannenbaum MF, Lee KS, Yoon SY, Levenson RB. Lessons Learned in Emergency Pelvic and First-Trimester US: Focus on Cognitive Biases. Radiographics 2025; 45:e240101. [PMID: 39847503 DOI: 10.1148/rg.240101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2025]
Abstract
Nonpregnant and pregnant women who present with acute pelvic pain can pose a diagnostic challenge in the emergency setting. The clinical presentation is often nonspecific, and the differential diagnosis may be very broad. These symptoms are often indications for pelvic US, which is the primary imaging modality when an obstetric or gynecologic cause is suspected. Interpretation of pelvic US may be challenging and a source of confusion and misinterpretation for radiologists. Additionally, cognitive biases in imaging interpretation can contribute to diagnostic errors. Cognitive biases represent systematic errors due to failure of the mental shortcuts that the brain subconsciously uses to produce quicker judgments. There are multiple different types of cognitive biases, all of which may lead to perceptual and interpretive errors. Familiarity with common and uncommon pelvic US findings in the setting of pelvic pain is imperative to assist with prompt and accurate diagnosis. Awareness of potential biases when interpreting pelvic US findings further helps hone the interpretation. The authors illustrate the imaging findings in several peer learning cases of nonpregnant and first-trimester pregnant patients who presented with acute pelvic pain in the emergency setting. Several nonobstetric and nongynecologic causes of acute pelvic pain are included for which pelvic US was the first imaging modality used in diagnosis. Diagnostic errors and cognitive biases in interpretation related to these cases are highlighted. The radiologist's awareness of potential cognitive biases in image interpretation may help to refine the differential diagnosis and mitigate errors. ©RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa F Tannenbaum
- From the Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Karen S Lee
- From the Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Se-Young Yoon
- From the Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
| | - Robin B Levenson
- From the Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
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Al Ghadeer HA, Al Muaibid AF, Alkhalaf MA, Al Nowaiser NA, Alkhalaf AA, Alghuwainem NN, Alharbi NN, Albuali AM, Almuslim SS, Aljumaiah NA, Alothman AM, Alhanfoush MI, Albahar SW, Budris MA, Alhawas IA. Predictive Factors of Acute Appendicitis and Its Outcomes Among the Pediatric Age Group. Cureus 2025; 17:e77925. [PMID: 39996225 PMCID: PMC11848228 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.77925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Acute appendicitis in preschool children remains a diagnostic challenge despite advanced imaging techniques' widespread availability. The majority of these children come late, often with complications such as appendicular perforation, abscess development, and peritonitis. As a consequence, hospital stays are lengthy and linked with an increase in morbidity and mortality. In this research, we aim to predict the factors of acute appendicitis and its outcomes among the pediatric age group. Methods We conducted a retrospective study at the Maternity and Children's Hospital, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, from 2022 to 2023 by reviewing the medical records of pediatric patients younger than 14 years admitted to the ER with acute appendicitis. We divided the patients into either complicated or simple appendicitis. We compared the two groups in terms of baseline characteristics, symptoms, and signs by using the Pediatric Appendicitis Score, duration of symptoms, and length of hospital stay as factors, and we assessed the significant predictive factors for the diagnosis of the type of appendicitis and length of hospital stay. Results During the study period, 246 children with a mean age of 10.1 ± 2.2 years and a male predominance of 171 (69.5%) presented with appendicitis. Simple appendicitis affected half of the participants (137, 55.7%) compared to complicated (76, 30.9%). Thirty-three children (13.4%) had a normal appendix. Complex appendicitis affected 76 (30.9%) of cases. Of those who received conservative treatment, 105 (42.7%) had a failure rate of 32 (30.5%). The mean hospital stay was 5.5 ± 4.0 days. Children under five years with complicated appendicitis had high appendicitis scores (p = < 0.05). Conclusion The predictive factors for pediatric appendicitis diagnosis are helpful in identifying those children who require intervention. However, the most crucial diagnostic instruments for determining the diagnosis of appendicitis in children are still the clinical signs and a physical abdominal examination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ali A Alkhalaf
- Pediatrics, Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Mubarraz, SAU
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Patel S, Gillett C. A Retrospective Study to Assess the Clinical Benefit of Ultrasound Scans Alone in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis With Normal Biochemical Findings. Cureus 2024; 16:e73070. [PMID: 39640104 PMCID: PMC11620787 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.73070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Acute appendicitis can affect patients of any age, although it is uncommon in the extremes of age. Timely diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis can have a significant positive effect on both patient care and the local population's wider health. A variety of different imaging modalities exists to investigate possible appendicitis including ultrasound (US) scan, computed tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, clinicians are at risk of overreliance on radiology alone, rather than clinical history and examination findings, to make a diagnosis. Method A team at a district general hospital (DGH) within the United Kingdom carried out a retrospective, single-centre audit over a three-month period using a general surgical handover list to collate data. The aim of the audit was to assess the value US added when reviewing paediatric patients for suspected appendicitis if biochemical results and clinical findings were within normal parameters. Results Following the exclusion of inappropriate patients, 76 patients were incorporated in the data collection process. Of those patients reviewed, eight (11%) of the population had a positive diagnosis of appendicitis, zero (0%) of which had positive US results. Fifty-three patients (70%) had negative US findings, and 23 patients (30%) did not receive a US at all. Fifty-three patients in whom a US was performed (100%) had a negative US as well as normal inflammatory markers (white cell count, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil). Conclusion US alone is not sufficient to rule out appendicitis and should be used when there is a moderate to high degree of clinical suspicion of appendicitis. US should be used, in conjunction with clinical and biochemical evidence, to help confirm a diagnosis of appendicitis only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Patel
- Surgery, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, GBR
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Amgad A, Lauro A, Severi S, Fabbri N, D'Andrea V, Pesce A. Fever, Abdominal Pain, and Inflammation in a Young Woman-Appendix, Liver, or Both? Dig Dis Sci 2024; 69:3614-3619. [PMID: 39298050 PMCID: PMC11489217 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-024-08606-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Amgad
- Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Augusto Lauro
- Department of Surgery, "Sapienza" University of Rome, V.Le Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Severi
- Unit of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, "Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale" of Ferrara, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicolò Fabbri
- Unit of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, "Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale" of Ferrara, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Vito D'Andrea
- Department of Surgery, "Sapienza" University of Rome, V.Le Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Pesce
- Unit of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, "Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale" of Ferrara, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
- Department of Surgery, Azienda USL of Ferrara, University of Ferrara, Via Valle Oppio 2, 44023, Lagosanto, FE, Italy.
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Stiegler C, Kapitza C, Weber F, Patalakh W, Schäfer C. Case report: A rare cause of intestinal perforation in a third-trimester pregnant woman. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1387043. [PMID: 39021822 PMCID: PMC11251912 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1387043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background An acute abdomen is a medical emergency that requires early diagnosis and treatment. In pregnancy, this process is significantly more challenging, and radiological findings are sometimes unclear due to the enlarged uterus displacing other structures. Moreover, endometriosis-related complications are rare, and the disease is often undiagnosed. Case presentation We report a case of acute perforation of the cecum and appendix during pregnancy (35 weeks of gestation) caused by a previously unknown, deep infiltrating endometriosis with focal ulceration of the affected bowel wall, which sonographically seemed to be acute appendicitis. Conclusion Despite the relatively low risk, clinicians should be aware of possible endometriosis-associated complications in pregnancy with potentially life-threatening events, even in previously unknown endometriosis. Further studies should evaluate intestinal complications during pregnancy in relation to previous treatment of intestinal endometriosis (conservative vs. surgical).
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens Stiegler
- Medical Department II, Klinikum Neumarkt, Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany
| | - Christopher Kapitza
- Medical Department II, Klinikum Neumarkt, Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany
| | - Florian Weber
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Wladimir Patalakh
- Department for Surgery, Klinikum Neumarkt, Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany
| | - Claus Schäfer
- Medical Department II, Klinikum Neumarkt, Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany
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Zouari M, Hbaieb M, Issaoui A, Krichen E, Safi F, Dhaou MB, Mhiri R. Ultrasound Assessment in Children With Suspected Appendicitis: Time to Revise Diagnostic Criteria: A Prospective Cohort Study. Surg Infect (Larchmt) 2024. [PMID: 38625002 DOI: 10.1089/sur.2023.370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Although ultrasound is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of children with suspected appendicitis, there is still much debate about the most accurate ultrasound findings. The purpose of this study was to define the best ultrasound signs that could ultimately improve the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for diagnosing pediatric acute appendicitis, and to differentiate between simple appendicitis and complicated appendicitis. Patients and Methods: After approval by our Institutional Review Board, a prospective study was carried out from January 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, in a pediatric emergency department. We included all patients aged under 14 years with suspected appendicitis and ultrasound-visualized appendix. Results: A total of 550 patients presented with suspected appendicitis during the study period. Of these children, 411 had an ultrasound-visualized appendix. Our patients' mean age was 9.4 years. The best positive predictive value of ultrasound was found for appendiceal diameter ≥7.5 mm. The combination of an appendiceal diameter <6 mm and the lack of peri-appendiceal free fluid on ultrasound rules out the diagnosis of appendicitis. The best diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, which was 92%, was achieved for appendix diameters ≥6.5 mm. The sonographic sign giving the best ultrasound accuracy for diagnosing complicated appendicitis was an appendix diameter ≥9 mm. Conclusions: In conclusion, our present study demonstrated that appendiceal diameter ≥6.5 mm is the gold standard for diagnosing appendicitis in pediatric patients. The combination of an appendiceal diameter <6 mm and the lack of peri-appendiceal free fluid on ultrasound would rule out appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Zouari
- Research Laboratory "Developmental and Induced Diseases" (LR19ES12), Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Manar Hbaieb
- Research Laboratory "Developmental and Induced Diseases" (LR19ES12), Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Asma Issaoui
- Research Laboratory "Developmental and Induced Diseases" (LR19ES12), Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Emna Krichen
- Research Laboratory "Developmental and Induced Diseases" (LR19ES12), Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Faiza Safi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Mahdi Ben Dhaou
- Research Laboratory "Developmental and Induced Diseases" (LR19ES12), Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Riadh Mhiri
- Research Laboratory "Developmental and Induced Diseases" (LR19ES12), Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
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11
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El-Aleem RA, Abd Allah AA, Shehata MR, Seifeldein GS, Hassanein SM. Diagnostic performance of spectral Doppler in acute appendicitis with an equivocal Alvarado score. Emerg Radiol 2024; 31:141-149. [PMID: 38265604 DOI: 10.1007/s10140-024-02205-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to evaluate the added value of duplex Doppler examination to the routinely graded compression grayscale ultrasound (US) for patients with suspected acute appendicitis (AA) in correlation with surgical management outcomes. METHODS The study lasted from January 2020 to March 2021. Throughout that period, patients who had suspected appendicitis were included with a visible appendix in the grayscale US. These patients were categorized clinically based on Alvarado's score. They underwent graded compression grayscale US of the appendix and duplex Doppler study. Subsequently, they were assigned for non-contrast multislice computed tomography (MSCT) according to Alvarado's score and underwent either emergency appendicectomy or conservative clinical management afterward. A Student's t-test was used to determine if there were significant differences in the mean values between the groups. The diagnostic performance of spectral Doppler US for the diagnosis of AA was depicted. RESULTS Eighty-four patients with visualized color flow in the appendicular Doppler US were enrolled, with 60 (71.4%) having AA, and 24 (28.6%) not having appendicitis. Spectral Doppler criterion of PSV greater than 8.6 cm/s demonstrated a high sensitivity of 91.67% and specificity of 77.78% for patients with Alvarado score ranging from 4 to 7, and appendiceal MOD ranging from 6 to 8 mm, while a discriminatory criterion of RI greater than 0.51 had a high sensitivity of 100% and a relatively lower specificity of 66.67%. CONCLUSION The patients with AA have significantly higher point PSV and point RI values than those without AA and are especially useful in equivocal patients whose MODs and Alvarado scores are in the diagnostically equivocal ranges of 6-8 mm and 4-7, respectively, with the point PSV and RI demonstrating negative predictive value 87.5% and 100%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham Abd El-Aleem
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Abdelrahman A Abd Allah
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, New Valley University, Kharga, Egypt
| | | | - Gehan S Seifeldein
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
| | - Sara M Hassanein
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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Bhandarkar S, Tsutsumi A, Schneider EB, Ong CS, Paredes L, Brackett A, Ahuja V. Emergent Applications of Machine Learning for Diagnosing and Managing Appendicitis: A State-of-the-Art Review. Surg Infect (Larchmt) 2024; 25:7-18. [PMID: 38150507 DOI: 10.1089/sur.2023.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Appendicitis is an inflammatory condition that requires timely and effective intervention. Despite being one of the most common surgically treated diseases, the condition is difficult to diagnose because of atypical presentations. Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) imaging improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnoses, yet these tools bear the drawbacks of high operator dependency and radiation exposure, respectively. However, new artificial intelligence tools (such as machine learning) may be able to address these shortcomings. Methods: We conducted a state-of-the-art review to delineate the various use cases of emerging machine learning algorithms for diagnosing and managing appendicitis in recent literature. The query ("Appendectomy" OR "Appendicitis") AND ("Machine Learning" OR "Artificial Intelligence") was searched across three databases for publications ranging from 2012 to 2022. Upon filtering for duplicates and based on our predefined inclusion criteria, 39 relevant studies were identified. Results: The algorithms used in these studies performed with an average accuracy of 86% (18/39), a sensitivity of 81% (16/39), a specificity of 75% (16/39), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of 0.82 (15/39) where reported. Based on accuracy alone, the optimal model was logistic regression in 18% of studies, an artificial neural network in 15%, a random forest in 13%, and a support vector machine in 10%. Conclusions: The identified studies suggest that machine learning may provide a novel solution for diagnosing appendicitis and preparing for patient-specific post-operative complications. However, further studies are warranted to assess the feasibility and advisability of implementing machine learning-based tools in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayaka Tsutsumi
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Eric B Schneider
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Chin Siang Ong
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lucero Paredes
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alexandria Brackett
- Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Vanita Ahuja
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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13
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Marcinkevičs R, Reis Wolfertstetter P, Klimiene U, Chin-Cheong K, Paschke A, Zerres J, Denzinger M, Niederberger D, Wellmann S, Ozkan E, Knorr C, Vogt JE. Interpretable and intervenable ultrasonography-based machine learning models for pediatric appendicitis. Med Image Anal 2024; 91:103042. [PMID: 38000257 DOI: 10.1016/j.media.2023.103042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Appendicitis is among the most frequent reasons for pediatric abdominal surgeries. Previous decision support systems for appendicitis have focused on clinical, laboratory, scoring, and computed tomography data and have ignored abdominal ultrasound, despite its noninvasive nature and widespread availability. In this work, we present interpretable machine learning models for predicting the diagnosis, management and severity of suspected appendicitis using ultrasound images. Our approach utilizes concept bottleneck models (CBM) that facilitate interpretation and interaction with high-level concepts understandable to clinicians. Furthermore, we extend CBMs to prediction problems with multiple views and incomplete concept sets. Our models were trained on a dataset comprising 579 pediatric patients with 1709 ultrasound images accompanied by clinical and laboratory data. Results show that our proposed method enables clinicians to utilize a human-understandable and intervenable predictive model without compromising performance or requiring time-consuming image annotation when deployed. For predicting the diagnosis, the extended multiview CBM attained an AUROC of 0.80 and an AUPR of 0.92, performing comparably to similar black-box neural networks trained and tested on the same dataset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ričards Marcinkevičs
- Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 6, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland.
| | - Patricia Reis Wolfertstetter
- Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Orthopedics, Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John of God, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Steinmetzstrasse 1-3, Regensburg, 93049, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany.
| | - Ugne Klimiene
- Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 6, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Kieran Chin-Cheong
- Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 6, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Alyssia Paschke
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - Julia Zerres
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - Markus Denzinger
- Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Orthopedics, Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John of God, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Steinmetzstrasse 1-3, Regensburg, 93049, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany
| | - David Niederberger
- Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 6, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
| | - Sven Wellmann
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany; Division of Neonatology, Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John of God, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Steinmetzstrasse 1-3, Regensburg, 93049, Germany
| | - Ece Ozkan
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 43 Vassar Street, Cambridge, 02139, USA
| | - Christian Knorr
- Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Orthopedics, Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John of God, University Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Steinmetzstrasse 1-3, Regensburg, 93049, Germany
| | - Julia E Vogt
- Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 6, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland.
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14
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Fowler AD, Buchmann RF, Kwong RC. Recurrent Abdominal Pain in a 19-year-old Girl. Pediatr Rev 2023; 44:S100-S102. [PMID: 37777220 DOI: 10.1542/pir.2022-005569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Fowler
- Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
| | - Robert F Buchmann
- Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
| | - Ryan C Kwong
- Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
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15
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Boling B, Solis A. Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in the Critical Care Setting: Abdominal POCUS. AACN Adv Crit Care 2023; 34:216-227. [PMID: 37644636 DOI: 10.4037/aacnacc2023298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Point-of-care ultrasonography is becoming standard practice for diagnosis and management of patients in the critical care setting. When using point-of-care ultrasonography for evaluation of the abdomen, most providers will immediately think of the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma examination. However, there are a number of important abdominal applications for the nontrauma patient, including evaluation of the function of abdominal organs, differentiation of shock states, and identification of sources of sepsis. This article covers basic approaches to an abdominal point-of-care ultrasonography examination of the biliary tract, liver, kidneys, bladder, and appendix, as well as identification and management of intra-abdominal free fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Boling
- Bryan Boling is Nurse Practitioner, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Kentucky, 531 Southbend Dr, Lexington, KY 40503 ; and Adjunct Faculty, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
| | - Abbye Solis
- Abbye Solis is Nurse Practitioner, Weinberg Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland; and Adjunct Faculty, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
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16
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Aziz O, Nevin S, Serhan Y, Hakan B, Abdulkadir A. What is the margin of error of surgeons and radiological imaging in diagnosing acute appendicitis? Niger J Clin Pract 2023; 26:881-888. [PMID: 37635570 DOI: 10.4103/njcp.njcp_284_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Acute appendicitis is the most common emergency requiring surgical intervention in general surgery. Negative appendectomy is defined as the removal of a pathologically normal appendix. Aim In this study, we aimed to show our negative appendectomy rate. Materials and Methods This study was carried out among 2990 patients who were operated on for appendicitis between 2015-2020 at the Health Sciences University, İstanbul Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training, and Research Hospital. Accrual and historical records of the patients were analyzed using NCSS (Number Cruncher Statistical System) 2007 Statistical Software (Utah, USA) package program. The results were evaluated at the significance level of P < 0.05. Results The mean age of all patients was 33. Of the patients, 1011 were women and 1979 were men. 27 of the women patients were pregnant. We requested a blood test (WBC count) and an abdominal ultrasound for all our patients who came with the complaint of abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant. Negative appendectomy was performed with ultrasonography in 622 patients with pathological diagnoses of lymphoid hyperplasia and fibrous obliteration (20.8%). We had abdominal computerized tomography (CT) for 285 patients and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for 16 of 27 pregnant women (59.25%) due to unclear clinical picture. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in 36 of the patients who underwent CT and 4 of the patients who underwent MRI since the diagnosis could not be made. We performed unnecessary appendectomy in 21.2% of the patients. Conclusion With the increasing clinical follow-up experience of surgeons and developing technology in radiology, our aim is to minimize the negative appendectomy rate as much as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Aziz
- General Surgery Department, Health Sciences University, İstanbul Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - S Nevin
- General Surgery Department, İstanbul Medipol University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Y Serhan
- General Surgery Department, Health Sciences University, İstanbul Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - B Hakan
- General Surgery Department, Health Sciences University, İstanbul Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - A Abdulkadir
- Radiology Department, Medipol Bahcelievler Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
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17
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Boyle MJ, Lin-Martore M, Graglia S. Point-of-care ultrasound in the assessment of appendicitis. Emerg Med J 2023; 40:528-531. [PMID: 37277167 DOI: 10.1136/emermed-2022-212433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Jarvis Boyle
- Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Margaret Lin-Martore
- Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sally Graglia
- Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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18
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Kim D, Woodham BL, Chen K, Kuganathan V, Edye MB. Rapid MRI Abdomen for Assessment of Clinically Suspected Acute Appendicitis in the General Adult Population: a Systematic Review. J Gastrointest Surg 2023; 27:1473-1485. [PMID: 37081221 PMCID: PMC10366263 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-023-05626-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To perform a systematic review on the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen to evaluate clinically suspected appendicitis in the general adult population. We examined the diagnostic accuracy, the reported trends of MRI use, and the factors that affect the utility of MRI abdomen, including study duration and cost-benefits. METHODS We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. We enrolled primary studies investigating the use of MRI in diagnosing appendicitis in the general adult population, excluding studies that predominantly reported on populations not representative of typical adult appendicitis presentations, such as those focusing on paediatric or pregnant populations. RESULTS Twenty-seven eligible primary studies and 6 secondary studies were included, totaling 2,044 patients from eight countries. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for diagnosing appendicitis were 96% (95% CI: 93-97%) and 93% (95% CI: 80-98%), respectively. MRI can identify complicated appendicitis and accurately propose alternative diagnoses. The duration of MRI protocols in each primary study ranged between 2.26 and 30 minutes, and only one study used intravenous contrast agents in addition to the non-contrast sequences. Decision analysis suggests significant benefits for replacing computed tomography (CT) with MRI and a potential for cost reduction. Reported trends in MRI usage showed minimal utilisation in diagnostic settings even when MRI was available. CONCLUSIONS MRI accurately diagnoses appendicitis in the general adult population and improves the identification of complicated appendicitis or alternative diagnoses compared to other modalities using a single, rapid investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongchan Kim
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, N.S.W. Australia
| | - Benjamin Luke Woodham
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, N.S.W. Australia
- Department of General Surgery, Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals, Blacktown Road, Blacktown, N.S.W. Australia
| | - Kathryn Chen
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, N.S.W. Australia
| | - Vinushan Kuganathan
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, N.S.W. Australia
| | - Michael Benjamin Edye
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, N.S.W. Australia
- Department of General Surgery, Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals, Blacktown Road, Blacktown, N.S.W. Australia
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19
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Keven A, Tekin AF, Arslan FZ, Özer H, Durmaz MS. Two-dimensional shear wave elastography can improve the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in acute appendicitis. J Ultrasound 2023; 26:471-477. [PMID: 36273062 PMCID: PMC10247928 DOI: 10.1007/s40477-022-00735-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining 2-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) with ultrasonography (US) in diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients with suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS Clinical and laboratory findings, gray-scale US and 2D-SWE imaging features, operation information, and pathology results of 48 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis who presented with right lower quadrant pain were prospectively evaluated. We compared the findings to the US and SWE imaging features of 79 asymptomatic patients. RESULTS Mean Alvarado score and appendix diameter were statistically significantly higher for acute appendicitis (p < 0.001). In patients with acute appendicitis, mesenteric lymphadenopathy and fat stranding were also more frequent (p < 0.001). The mean velocity and kPa values for appendix and mesenteric fat were statistically significantly higher in acute appendicitis (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION In the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, 2D-SWE increases the diagnostic performance of gray-scale US in the differentiation of inflamed and normal appendixes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayşe Keven
- Department of Radiology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Dumlupınar Bulvarı, Akdeniz Üniversitesi Hastanesi, Arapsuyu, 07059 Antalya, Turkey
| | - Ali Fuat Tekin
- Department of Radiology, Health Sciences University, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fatma Zeynep Arslan
- Department of Radiology, Health Sciences University, Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Halil Özer
- Department of Radiology, Selçuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Sedat Durmaz
- Department of Radiology, Selçuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey
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20
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Kam CT, Alsahaf M, Chongbang K, Taki M, Yusob J, Alexander S, Rait J. Ultrasound vs. clinical diagnosis-which is better in diagnosing acute appendicitis?: a cohort study. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2023; 85:2336-2340. [PMID: 37363501 PMCID: PMC10289541 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000000730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of right iliac fossa pain which often warrants surgical management. In many cases, abdominal ultrasonography (USS) is done to confirm the diagnosis however negative appendicectomy is common due to atypical presentations and different visualisation rate. The unnecessary operative intervention can result in complications. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy between clinical diagnosis and USS in diagnosing acute appendicitis to avoid negative appendicectomy and prevent further complications. Method A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a district general hospital which 1046 cases of laparoscopic appendicectomy were included and examined for the use of USS or clinical diagnosis. The sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value in USS and data in clinical evaluation were analysed for their accuracy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis based on the histology results post appendicectomy. Results Clinical diagnosis without preoperative imaging was found to have a significantly lower negative appendicectomy rate of 27.20% compared with 42.67% in those who underwent ultrasound. 44.64% of the patients were misdiagnosed with a normal USS result who had a subsequent positive histology of appendicitis. Conclusions USS has been shown to be less sensitive for diagnosing acute appendicitis which results in high negative appendicectomy and misdiagnosis rate. With an increasing burden of health budget and resources, cautious and appropriate use of USS would avoid the misdiagnosis and prevent further complications. Thorough clinical evaluation remains an important first step and role in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Tung Kam
- Department of General Surgery, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
| | - Mahdi Alsahaf
- Department of General Surgery, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
| | - Kul Chongbang
- William Harvey Hospital, East Kent University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
| | - Mona Taki
- Medway Maritime Hospital, Medway Foundation Trust
| | | | | | - Jaideep Rait
- Surgery, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Kent, UK
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21
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Weitzner ZN, Chung A, Naini BV, Graham D, Livingston EH. Correlation of Computed Tomography, Pathological Findings, and Clinical Outcomes for Appendicoliths in Appendicitis. ANNALS OF SURGERY OPEN 2023; 4:e280. [PMID: 37601462 PMCID: PMC10431545 DOI: 10.1097/as9.0000000000000280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To correlate preoperative imaging of fecaliths with what is seen in surgical specimens. Background Early studies considered radiological findings of appendicoliths as a contraindication for nonoperative treatment of appendicitis. There is no standard definition for what is labeled as an appendicolith radiologically and little is known about the pathological correlates of these lesions. Methods A single center, retrospective study of a consecutive series of adult patients who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis from March 2021 to February 2022 was performed. The primary outcome was concordance between preoperative cross-sectional imaging description of appendicolith with postoperative gross pathology description. Images were retrospectively reviewed by an independent radiologist, and the presence and characteristics of appendicoliths and appendices were examined. Results Of 88 cases of appendicitis, 86 were diagnosed preoperatively by computed tomography (CT) imaging. Appendicoliths were seen either on CT or pathology in 45 (51%) patients. Of these 45 patients, a total of 38 (84%) were identified radiographically, and 28 (62%) were identified on pathology. Of the 38 appendicoliths diagnosed on preoperative imaging, only 21 (55%) were confirmed pathologically. Additionally, of the 28 appendicoliths observed on pathology, only 21 (75%) were identified preoperatively on imaging. There was no appendiceal obstruction in 10 of the 40 cases (25%) in which retrospective radiological review identified appendicoliths. Conclusions Discrepancies were observed between CT and pathology findings of appendicoliths. Not all appendicoliths seem to cause appendicitis. Because the presence of appendicolith influences the treatment decisions, there is a need to standardize their radiological diagnosis and better understand their pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary N. Weitzner
- From the Department of Surgery, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Alex Chung
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Bita V. Naini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Danielle Graham
- From the Department of Surgery, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Edward H. Livingston
- From the Department of Surgery, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
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22
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Octavius GS, Muljono MP, Budiputri CL. Serum pentraxin-3 in diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients with acute abdominal pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy. Surgery 2023; 173:1122-1128. [PMID: 36828742 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute appendicitis is one of many common reasons for acute abdominal pain, and its exact diagnosis is still debatable amongst clinicians. This systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy aim to look at serum pentraxin-3 performance in diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients with acute abdominal pain. METHODS This systematic review is registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42022338296). The primary outcome of this study is to examine the sensitivity, specificity, and post-test probability of serum pentraxin-3 (the index test) in patients with acute appendicitis. We searched various academic databases such as Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Google Scholar, ScieLO, MedRxiv, BioRxiv, and Research Square. Two independent authors reviewed, selected the articles, and extracted the data. The analysis was done using STATA software using the "midas" and "metandi" commands. RESULTS Five articles fulfilled our inclusion criteria with 520 patients, and 27.5% of them were children. The combined sensitivity is 90.3% (95% confidence interval 78.6-95.9), and the combined specificity is 91.2% (95% confidence interval 22.1-99.7). The area under the curve is 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.92-0.96). Fagan's Nomogram showed that the positive likelihood ratio is 10.38 (95% confidence interval 0.38-284.76) with an 87% post-test probability, while the negative likelihood ratio is 0.11 (95% confidence interval 0.04-0.27) with a 7% post-test probability. The combined negative predictive value is 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.81-0.98), and the positive predictive value is 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.81-0.98). CONCLUSION Serum pentraxin-3 could only be used as a confirmation test for acute appendicitis but not exclude it.
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23
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Afzal Z, Bukhari I, Kumar S, Deeknah A, Lei W, Mitrasinovic S, Chan O, Francis FE, Satheesan KS. Management of Acute Appendicitis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e37193. [PMID: 37159762 PMCID: PMC10163560 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the management of acute appendicitis shifted towards non-operative management in the United Kingdom (UK). The open approach was recommended over the laparoscopic approach due to the risk of aerosol generation and subsequent contamination. The aim of this study was to compare the overall management and surgical outcomes of the patients treated for acute appendicitis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study at a single district general hospital in the UK. We compared the management and outcome of the patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis before the pandemic, from March to August 2019, and during the pandemic, from March to August 2020. We looked at the patient demographics, methods of diagnosis, management, and surgical outcomes for these patients. The primary outcome of the study was the 30-day readmission rate. Secondary outcomes included length of stay and post-operative complications. RESULTS Over the period of six months, a total of 179 patients were diagnosed with acute appendicitis in 2019 (Pre-COVID-19 pandemic, from March 1, 2019, to August 31, 2019) versus 152 in 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 1, 2020, to August 31, 2020). For the 2019 cohort, the mean age of the patients was 33 (range 6-86 years), 52% (n=93) were female, and the mean BMI was 26 (range 14-58). For the 2020 cohort, the mean age was 37 (range 4-93 years), 48% (n=73) of the patients were female, and the mean BMI was 27 (range 16-53). At the first presentation, in 2019, 97.2% of the patients (174 out of 179) received surgical treatment compared to 70.4% (107 out of 152) in 2020. Three per cent of the patients (n=5) were managed conservatively in 2019 (two out these failed conservative management) as compared to 29.6% (n=45) in 2020 (21 of these failed conservative management). Pre-pandemic, only 32.4% (n= 57, ultrasound (US) scan: 11, computer tomography (CT) scan): 45, both US and CT: 1) of the patients received imaging to confirm the diagnosis as compared to 53.3% during pandemic (n=81, US scan: 12, CT scan: 63, both US and CT: 6). Overall, the CT to US ratio increased. We found that during 2019, 91.5% (n=161/176) of the patients who received surgical treatment went through laparoscopic surgery as compared to only 74.2% (n=95/128) in 2020 (p<0.0001). Postoperative complications occurred in 5.1% (n=9/176) of the surgical patients in 2019 as compared to 12.5% (n=16/128) in 2020 (p<0.033). The mean length of hospital stay in 2019 was 2.9 days (range 1-11) versus 4.5 days in 2020 (range 1-57) (p<0.0001). The 30-day readmission rate was 4.5% (8/179) versus 19.1% (29/152) (p<0.0001). The 90-day mortality rate was zero for both cohorts. CONCLUSION Our study shows that the management of acute appendicitis changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More patients went through imaging, especially CT scans for diagnosis and received non-operative management with antibiotics only. The open surgical approach became more common during the pandemic. This was associated with longer lengths of hospital stay, more readmissions, and an increase in postoperative complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeeshan Afzal
- Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS (National Health Service) Foundation Trust, Cambridge, GBR
- Department of Surgery, Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, GBR
| | - Ishtiyaq Bukhari
- Department of Surgery, Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, GBR
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Department of Surgery, Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, GBR
| | | | - Winnie Lei
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, GBR
- Milner Therapeutics Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, GBR
| | | | - Onton Chan
- Department of Surgery, Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, GBR
| | | | - Kanagasingham S Satheesan
- Department of Surgery, Peterborough City Hospital, Peterborough, GBR
- Leicester Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester, GBR
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Najm A, Bejenaru IM, Manolescu SL, Iliescu R, Cretoiu SM, Gaspar BS. An Occlusive Form of Acute Gangrenous Appendicitis With Periappendicular Abscess in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e36213. [PMID: 37069883 PMCID: PMC10105286 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute appendicitis represents one of the common causes of admission to the emergency department. In rare cases, patients with appendicitis can suffer complications such as intestinal obstruction. These particular cases of occlusive appendicitis with a periappendicular abscess usually occur in elderly patients and can develop in an aggressive form, nonetheless with a favorable evolution. We present a case of an 80-year-old male patient, reporting symptoms similar to an occlusive digestive pathology: abdominal pain, intestinal transit disorders, and fecal vomiting. A computerized tomography scan suggested a mechanical bowel obstruction. The patient had an exploratory laparotomy indication to find the cause of the obstruction. The peritoneal cavity inspection revealed an occlusive form of acute gangrenous appendicitis with a periappendicular abscess. An appendectomy was performed. In conclusion, as surgeons, we must always take into consideration that acute appendicitis can represent a cause of intestinal obstruction, especially in elderly patients.
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D’Andrea A, Del Giudice C, Fabiani D, Caputo A, Sabatella F, Cante L, Palermi S, Desiderio A, Tagliamonte E, Liccardo B, Russo V. The Incremental Role of Multiorgan Point-of-Care Ultrasounds in the Emergency Setting. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2088. [PMID: 36767456 PMCID: PMC9915087 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) represents a goal-directed ultrasound examination performed by clinicians directly involved in patient healthcare. POCUS has been widely used in emergency departments, where US exams allow physicians to make quick diagnoses and to recognize early life-threatening conditions which require prompt interventions. Although initially meant for the real-time evaluation of cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies, its use has been extended to a wide range of clinical applications, such as screening for deep-vein thrombosis and trauma, abdominal ultrasonography of the right upper quadrant and appendix, and guidance for invasive procedures. Moreover, recently, bedside ultrasounds have been used to evaluate the fluid balance and to guide decongestive therapy in acutely decompensated heart failure. The aim of the present review was to discuss the most common applications of POCUS in the emergency setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonello D’Andrea
- Department of Cardiology and Intensive Coronary Care, Umberto I Hospital, 84014 Nocera Inferiore, Italy
| | - Carmen Del Giudice
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Traslational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Dario Fabiani
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Traslational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Adriano Caputo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Traslational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Sabatella
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Traslational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Cante
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Traslational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Palermi
- Public Health Department, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Alfonso Desiderio
- Department of Cardiology and Intensive Coronary Care, Umberto I Hospital, 84014 Nocera Inferiore, Italy
| | - Ercole Tagliamonte
- Department of Cardiology and Intensive Coronary Care, Umberto I Hospital, 84014 Nocera Inferiore, Italy
| | - Biagio Liccardo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Traslational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Russo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Traslational Medical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Augustin G, Mikuš M, Bogdanic B, Barcot O, Herman M, Goldštajn MŠ, Tropea A, Vitale SG. A novel Appendicitis TriMOdal prediction Score (ATMOS) for acute appendicitis in pregnancy: a retrospective observational study. Updates Surg 2022; 74:1933-1941. [PMID: 36048362 DOI: 10.1007/s13304-022-01368-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Several scoring systems exist for the management of acute appendicitis (AA) during pregnancy. However, the systems are based on the nonpregnant adult population. The aim of this study was to create a highly accurate scoring system that can be applied to pregnant women and to compare it to the most commonly used scores in general population and pregnant women. The creation and subsequent implementation of a highly accurate score system could shorten the diagnostic period and minimize the use of (ionizing) diagnostic imaging allowing the selection of the best treatment approach in pregnant patients with acute appendicitis. A single-center, retrospective cohort observational study was conducted at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. Data were extracted from medical records of pregnant patients with suspected AA from January 2010 to December 2020. A total of 59 pregnant patients diagnosed with AA during pregnancy were identified, 41 were treated surgically, and 18 had non-surgical management. The main objective of our study was the detection of predictive factors of AA during pregnancy. Anorexia, pain migration to the right lower quadrant, rebound pain, axillary temperature over 37.3 °C, CRP/platelet ratio > 0.0422, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio > 7.182, and ultrasonic signs of AA were scored. Scoring in Appendicitis TriMOdal Score (ATMOS) consists of positive clinical parameter, each bringing 1 point and other parameters mentioned above that bring 2 points each. The score ranges from 0 to 10. Our model of ATMOS yields a high area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.963. The positive likelihood ratio is 9.97 (95% CI 2.64-38.00), and the negative likelihood ratio is 0.1 (95% CI 0.03-0.31), meaning that 94% of cases with ATMOS > 4 have AA, while less than 13% with an ATMOS ≤ 4 have the diagnosis of AA. The potential of ATMOS differentiating AA during pregnancy was demonstrated. Future prospective, randomized trials are needed to evaluate its accuracy and whether it should be used instead of Alvarado or Tzanakis scores in clinical decision-making.Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov-NCT05202483. Date of registration: January 21, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Augustin
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mislav Mikuš
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Petrova 13, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Branko Bogdanic
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ognjen Barcot
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Split, Spinčićeva 1, Split, Croatia
| | - Mislav Herman
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Petrova 13, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Šprem Goldštajn
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Petrova 13, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Alessandro Tropea
- Department for the Treatment and Study of Abdominal Diseases and Abdominal Transplantation, IRCCS ISMETT (Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies), Via E. Tricomi 1, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Salvatore Giovanni Vitale
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95124, Catania, Italy
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Okonkwo UC, Ohagwu CC, Aronu ME, Okafor CE, Idumah CI, Okokpujie IP, Chukwu NN, Chukwunyelu CE. Ionizing radiation protection and the linear No-threshold controversy: Extent of support or counter to the prevailing paradigm. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2022; 253-254:106984. [PMID: 36057228 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study has developed a relationship that categorized radiation protection and allows for a proper, clear, and concise review of the different classifications in terms of principles of protection, dose criteria, categories, fundamental tools, exposure situations, applications and control measures. With the groundwork laid, advances of the linear no-threshold (LNT) model which has attracted attention in the field of radiobiology and epidemiology were examined in detail. Various plausible dose-response relationship scenarios were x-rayed under low-dose extrapolation. Intensive review of factors opposing the LNT model involving radiophobia (including misdiagnosis, alternative surgery/imaging, suppression of ionizing radiation (IR) research); radiobiology (including DNA damage repair, apoptosis/necrosis, senescence protection) and cost issues (including-high operating cost of LNT, incorrect prioritization, exaggeration of LNT impact, risk-to-benefit analysis) were performed. On the other hand, factors supporting the use of LNT were equally examined, they include regulatory bodies' endorsement, insufficient statistical significance, partial DNA repair, variability of irradiated bodies, different latency periods for cancer, dynamic nature of threshold and conflicting interests. After considering the gaps in the scientific investigations that either support or counter the scientific paradigm on the use of LNT model, further research and advocacy is recommended that will ultimately lead to the acceptance of an alternative paradigm by the international regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugochukwu C Okonkwo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
| | - Christopher C Ohagwu
- Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Michael E Aronu
- Department of Radiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Christian E Okafor
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Christopher I Idumah
- Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Imhade P Okokpujie
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Afe-Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Nelson N Chukwu
- National Engineering Design Development Institute, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
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Abgottspon D, Putora K, Kinkel J, Süveg K, Widmann B, Hornung R, Minotti B. Accuracy of Point-of-care Ultrasound in Diagnosing Acute Appendicitis During Pregnancy. West J Emerg Med 2022; 23:913-918. [PMID: 36409934 DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2022.8.56638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Acute appendicitis is the most common non-obstetrical surgical emergency in pregnancy. Ultrasound is the imaging tool of choice, but its use is complicated due to anatomical changes during pregnancy and depends on the clinician’s expertise. In this study, our aim was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in suspected appendicitis in pregnant women.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all pregnant women undergoing POCUS for suspected appendicitis between June 2010–June 2020 in a tertiary emergency department. The primary outcome was to establish sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios of POCUS in diagnosing acute appendicitis, overall and for each trimester. We used histology of the appendix as the reference standard in case of surgery. If appendectomy was not performed, the clinical course until childbirth was used to rule out appendicitis. If the patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we compared readings to POCUS.
Results: A total of 61 women were included in the study, of whom 34 (55.7%) underwent appendectomy and in 30 (49.2%) an acute appendicitis was histopathologically confirmed. Sensitivity of POCUS was 66.7% (confidence interval [CI] 95% 47.1-82.7), specificity 96.8% (CI 95% 83.3-99.9), and positive likelihood ratio 20.7. Performance of POCUS was comparable in all trimesters, with highest sensitivity in the first trimester (72.7%). The MRI reading showed a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 100%. In the four negative appendectomies a MRI was not performed.
Conclusion: Point-of-care ultrasound showed a high specificity and positive likelihood ratio in diagnosing acute appendicitis in pregnant women in all trimesters with suspected appendicitis. In negative (or inconclusive) cases further imaging as MRI could be helpful to avoid negative appendectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Désirée Abgottspon
- Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Putora
- Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Janis Kinkel
- Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Kinga Süveg
- Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Bernhard Widmann
- Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Department of General, Visceral, Endocrine and Transplantation Surgery, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - René Hornung
- Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Minotti
- Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Gallen, Switzerland; University Hospital Basel, Department of Emergency Medicine, Basel, Switzerland
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Halaseh SA, Kostalas M, Kopec C, Nimer A. Bilirubin as a Predictor of Complicated Appendicitis in a District General Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis. Cureus 2022; 14:e29036. [PMID: 36237793 PMCID: PMC9552955 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.29036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims The objectives of the study were to establish the function of bilirubin as a novel diagnostic tool for predicting complex appendicitis and to compare the impact of other variables such as white blood cell count (WCC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neutrophil. Methods This retrospective, single-center cohort analysis included all patients admitted to Torbay General Hospital in Torquay, United Kingdom, between January 2020 and December 2020 with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. In addition to serum CRP, WCC, and neutrophil, serum bilirubin and other liver enzymes were obtained from the patients’ blood on admission. Results The quantitative analysis included 174 patients from the group that remained. The large majority of the sample consisted of adults and males (77% and 51.7%, respectively). Overall, 49.4% of participants in the study were diagnosed with complicated appendicitis; 74.7% of adults had complicated appendicitis, with 58.6% being male. In 68.6% of cases, perforated appendicitis was the most prevalent form of complicated appendicitis. Patients with complicated appendicitis had significantly higher WCC, neutrophil, and CRP levels than those with uncomplicated appendicitis (14.15 vs. 12.88, p = 0.016; 11.63 vs. 10.19, p = 0.007; and (89.28 vs. 40.65, p = 0.0001, respectively).. The significantly greater alkaline phosphatase and total serum bilirubin discrepancies were observed in patients with complicated appendicitis. There were statistically significant differences in the means of the patients: (18.46 vs. 10.98, p = 0.0001 and 110.64 vs. 102.24, p = 0.033). Conclusion Serum bilirubin is a crucial diagnostic aid for determining the existence of complicated appendicitis.
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Point-of-Care Abdominal Ultrasonography (POCUS) on the Way to the Right and Rapid Diagnosis. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12092052. [PMID: 36140454 PMCID: PMC9497677 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12092052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Point-of-Care ultrasound (POCUS) is based on target ultrasound that is performed wherever a patient is being treated, and by a non-radiologist directly involved in the patient’s care. It is used either for quick diagnosis or procedural guidance. Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints in emergency departments, and POCUS can help in the differentiation of patients who need additional diagnostic tests or hospital treatment, which eventually reduces the overall costs of health care. POCUS has high sensitivity and specificity in abdominal pathology, it can be helpful in the evaluation of biliary, intestinal, and urinary tract, and it is especially used in trauma. Additionally, the gold standard for abdominal aortic aneurysm detection, follow up and screening is precisely this diagnostic procedure. Unfortunately, the quality of ultrasound examination can be affected by the experience of the physician performing it and the patient’s body weight. There is no doubt that POCUS is being increasingly recognized, but all motivated physicians should be provided with dedicated tutors and enough time for learning. This would certainly help to implement this diagnostic method as a routine in emergency and critical care departments, and significantly shorten the time until definitive diagnosis.
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Hatem F, Baig H, Khaldas F, Lucocq J. Negative Appendicectomy Rates in Females of Childbearing Age: A Retrospective Analysis and Literature Review. Cureus 2022; 14:e27412. [PMID: 36051710 PMCID: PMC9419911 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.27412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction A negative appendicectomy rate (NAR) is defined as the portion of pathologically normal appendices removed surgically in patients suspected of having acute appendicitis. The lifetime risk of acute appendicitis is 8.6% for males and 6.7% for females; contrarily, the lifetime risk of appendicectomy is 12% for males and 23.1% for females. This study aims primarily to evaluate the true NAR in females of childbearing age to offer insight into potential strategies to reduce the number of unnecessary operative procedures carried out, along with their associated morbidity and mortality. Methods All emergency appendicectomies over a one-year period were retrospectively identified and collected from a single tertiary care centre. Preoperative clinical, laboratory and postoperative histopathological data were collected. The negative appendicectomy rate in subgroups divided by biomarkers and radiological imaging findings were analysed. The diagnostic value of these modalities in the context of acute appendicitis was found by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values. Results A total of 417 patients were included (median age 26; M:F, 0.7:1.0). The overall negative appendicectomy rate was 35.0% (146/417). Two-hundred sixty-one patients underwent an appendicectomy in the child-bearing age group. The NAR was significantly higher in those females with raised WBC and C-reactive protein (CRP) compared to their male counterparts (p-value -<0.001). Conclusion Women of childbearing age have a higher NAR of 43% when compared to the general population of 35%. Preoperative tests, including ultrasound scans, computed tomography and inflammatory markers in blood tests, help direct those who would benefit from surgery to the operating theatre, however, no test alone is suitably sensitive or specific. To reduce the NAR, management options include a return to observation and serial examination, increased use of low-dose CT or a commitment to improving the performance of ultrasonography.
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Rong K, Herbst MK. Massive Ovarian Cyst Mimics Constipation. J Emerg Med 2022; 62:e108-e110. [PMID: 35400506 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2022.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abdominal pain and constipation are common presenting symptoms of pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department. Sometimes these symptoms are related to uncomplicated constipation from stool burden, and other cases may be secondary to more serious pathologies, including obstruction from intra- or extra-intestinal compression. Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) can be helpful in discerning the etiology for this undifferentiated symptomatology. CASE REPORT A 14-year-old girl presented with 3 days of constipation and abdominal pain. This was similar to previous symptoms that resolved with laxatives. This time, however, her symptoms were associated with one episode of vomiting. PoCUS expanded a narrow differential with the discovery of a large ovarian cyst. This finding helped to expedite her transfer to a pediatric hospital for definitive treatment in the operating room. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Constipation is one of the leading reasons pediatric patients present to the ED with abdominal pain. PoCUS can detect uncommon causes of constipation, especially pathologies associated with large volumes of fluid, such as a large ovarian cyst, bladder outlet obstruction, or small bowel obstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Rong
- Emergency Medicine Residency, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Meghan Kelly Herbst
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
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Kilkenny J, Greensmith TSW, Hameed W, Gill S, Hassan S. A Case-Based Overview of the Role of Radiological Imaging in Emergency General Surgery. Cureus 2022; 14:e21986. [PMID: 35282515 PMCID: PMC8906555 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.21986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This article aims to give an overview of some of the common conditions seen in emergency general surgery and the recommended choice of imaging. For junior doctors, choosing the correct imaging modality can be difficult so we aim to provide a summary of the evidence behind radiology for emergency general surgery. Four of the most important acute surgical conditions were chosen, alongside abdominal aortic aneurysm. A literature search was carried out to review the most up-to-date evidence regarding imaging choices. Cases were chosen from everyday practice to put the imaging into context. This article gives an overview of the most common imaging modalities used in emergency general surgery. It can be used by medical students and junior doctors to help understand the reasoning behind imaging choices on the acute surgical take.
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Sensitivity and specificity of the Alvarado Score for the timely differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis for a case series in Samoa. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 73:103219. [PMID: 35079363 PMCID: PMC8767311 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.103219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Timely diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) is essential for optimal management of abdominal pain emergency presentations. Improved diagnostic procedures should minimise progression to complicated appendicitis, as well as reduce the number of unwanted surgical interventions. The Alvarado Score is an important tool to assist with the management of AA based on clinically predictive values. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Alvarado Score as an instrument for the diagnosis of AA in our low-resourced context of Samoa. Materials and methods The lead investigator performed a retrospective clinical data review design of all patients admitted to the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital Surgical Unit for AA from January 2015 to December 2016. Exclusion criteria were appendiceal abscess and/or mass, and final diagnosis ‘not acute appendicitis’. Age, sex, village, Alvarado Score, Ultrasound Scan Result, surgical management, and histopathology result were the main variables entered into the SPSS statistical software package for analysis. Results Of the 225 patients (2–86 years) admitted for AA, 67.1% (N = 151) underwent appendicectomy, and the remaining 32.9% (N = 74) were treated with antibiotics. An Alvarado Score (≥5) showed 91.7% sensitivity and 50% specificity for AA. There was a significant relationship between the Alvarado Score and the Ultrasound Scan for AA (p < 0.05). Histology results showed complicated AA in 68.6% (N = 94) of cases. The negative appendicectomy rate was 2.6%. Conclusions The Alvarado Score is an effective tool for the timely differential diagnosis of AA in our Samoan context. The high rate of complicated acute appendicitis warrants investigation to further improve the management of AA in the Pacific Island setting.
Effective instrument required for the timely diagnosis of appendicitis in low-resource contexts Alvarado Score is an effective tool for the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis High specificity demonstrated for use of Alvarado Score in the emergency department of Samoa Histology results showed high rate of complicated acute appendicitis in Samoa Surgical outcomes showed low negative appendicectomy rate
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Cicero G, Ascenti G, Blandino A, Booz C, Vogl TJ, Trimarchi R, D'Angelo T, Mazziotti S. Overview of the Large Bowel Assessment using Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Different Techniques for Current and Emerging Clinical Applications. Curr Med Imaging 2022; 18:1031-1045. [PMID: 35362386 DOI: 10.2174/1573405618666220331111237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Radiological assessments of the small and large bowel are essential in daily clinical practice. Over X-ray plain films and ultrasound, cross-sectional techniques are considered the most comprehensive imaging modalities. "Cross-sectional techniques" refers to CT and MRI, as stated in the following sentence. In fact, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging take great advantage of the three-dimensional appraisal and the extensive evaluation of the abdominal cavity, allowing intestinal evaluation as well as detection of extra-intestinal findings. In this context, the chief advantage of computed tomography is the fast scan time, which is crucial for emergency cases. Nonetheless, it is undeniably impaired using ionizing radiation. As the awareness of radiation exposure is a topic of increasing importance, magnetic resonance imaging is not only becoming a mere alternative but also a primary imaging technique used in assessing intestinal diseases. Specifically, the evaluation of the large bowel through MRI can still be considered relatively uncharted territory. Although it has demonstrated superior accuracy in the assessment of some clinical entities from inflammatory bowel disease to rectal carcinoma, its role needs to be consolidated in many other conditions. Moreover, different technical methods can be applied for colonic evaluation depending on the specific disease and segment involved. This article aims to provide a thorough overview of the techniques that can be utilized in the evaluation of the large bowel and a discussion on the major findings in different colonic pathologies of primary interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Cicero
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Policlinico "G. Martino" Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - Giorgio Ascenti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Policlinico "G. Martino" Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - Alfredo Blandino
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Policlinico "G. Martino" Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - Christian Booz
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Division of Experimental and Translational Imaging, University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas J Vogl
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Division of Experimental and Translational Imaging, University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Renato Trimarchi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Policlinico "G. Martino" Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - Tommaso D'Angelo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Policlinico "G. Martino" Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
| | - Silvio Mazziotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Policlinico "G. Martino" Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98100, Messina, Italy
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Mijwil MM, Aggarwal K. A diagnostic testing for people with appendicitis using machine learning techniques. MULTIMEDIA TOOLS AND APPLICATIONS 2022; 81:7011-7023. [PMID: 35095329 PMCID: PMC8785023 DOI: 10.1007/s11042-022-11939-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Appendicitis is a common disease that occurs particularly often in childhood and adolescence. The accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis is the most significant precaution to avoid severe unnecessary surgery. In this paper, the author presents a machine learning (ML) technique to predict appendix illness whether it is acute or subacute, especially between 10 and 30 years and whether it requires an operation or just taking medication for treatment. The dataset has been collected from public hospital-based citizens between 2016 and 2019. The predictive results of the models achieved by different ML techniques (Logistic Regression, Naïve Bayes, Generalized Linear, Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine, Gradient Boosted Tree, Random Forest) are compared. The covered dataset are 625 specimens and the total of the medical records that are applied in this paper include 371 males (60.22%) and 254 females (40.12%). According to the dataset, the records consist of 318 (50.88%) operated and 307 (49.12%) unoperated patients. It is observed that the random forest algorithm obtains the optimal result with an accurately predicted result of 83.75%, precision of 84.11%, sensitivity of 81.08%, and the specificity of 81.01%. Moreover, an estimation method based on ML techniques is improved and enhanced to detect individuals with acute appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maad M. Mijwil
- Computer Techniques Engineering Department, Baghdad College of Economic Sciences University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Karan Aggarwal
- Electronics and Communication Engineering Department, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, Ambala, India
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Ashjaei B, Mehdizadeh M, Alizadeh H, Najm N, Moghtaderi M. Evaluating the value of different sonographic findings in diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children. Afr J Paediatr Surg 2022; 19:13-17. [PMID: 34916345 PMCID: PMC8759413 DOI: 10.4103/ajps.ajps_124_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Appendicitis is one of the most common paediatric surgical emergencies occurring in about 7% of healthy children. To make a definitive diagnosis preferably avoiding unnecessary X-ray radiation exposure, ultrasound is the ideal modality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of sonographic findings in children with acute appendicitis and comparing them with surgical findings to demonstrate the safety, simplicity and accuracy of this procedure in emergency departments as the first diagnostic procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and eight children aged 1-15 years suspected of acute appendicitis in our tertiary hospital emergency department enrolled the study. Patients presenting as acute abdomen suspected as having acute appendicitis underwent abdominal ultrasonography (US) at first. Sonographic findings were compared to surgical and pathologic results, and sensitivity and specificity of each sonographic parameter in paediatric appendicitis were evaluated. RESULTS The analysis of sonographic results showed that 67.6% of patients had acute appendicitis, 13.9% had perforated appendicitis and 18.5% had normal appendix. On the other hand, there were acute appendicitis in 63.9% of patients, perforated appendicitis in 12% and normal appendix in 8.3% in surgical reports. Sensitivity of uncompressible appendicitis, appendicitis, maximal outer diameter (MOD) above 6 mm, maximal mural thickness (MMT) above 3 mm, round appendix was 98.68%, 28.04%, 94.74%, 61.84% and 68.42%, respectively. Specificity of incompressible appendicitis, appendicitis, MOD above 6 mm, MMT above 3 mm, round appendix was 64.71%, 96.15%, 64.71%, 82.35% and 94.12%, respectively. Overall sensitivity and specificity of US in appendicitis were 97.56% and 69.23%, respectively. CONCLUSION According to the findings of this study, sensitivity of US in diagnosing appendicitis is higher than other studies, but its specificity was lower. Ultrasonographic accuracy and efficacy to diagnose acute appendicitis in children are high enough to allow clinicians to do it as an imaging modality of first choice, and also, in problematic cases to assist correct clinical diagnosis avoiding unnecessary X-ray exposure, decreasing negative appendectomies, decreasing perforation rate and lowering the cost of patients. Furthermore, negative US do not justify immediate computed tomography because clinical re-evaluation and a second US can help greatly the clinicians in the correct diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Ashjaei
- Children Medical Center Hospital, Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrzad Mehdizadeh
- Children Medical Center Hospital, Departments of Pediatric Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Houman Alizadeh
- Children Medical Center Hospital, Departments of Pediatric Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nooshin Najm
- Children Medical Center Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mastaneh Moghtaderi
- Children Medical Center Hospital, Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Wongwaisayawa S, Prapruttam D, Klawandee S, Tangkittithaworn P. Effect of Alvarado Score on the Negative Predictive Value of Nondiagnostic Ultrasound for Acute Appendicitis. J Med Ultrasound 2022; 30:125-129. [PMID: 35832371 PMCID: PMC9272718 DOI: 10.4103/jmu.jmu_139_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The purposes of this study were to calculate the negative predictive value (NPV) of nondiagnostic ultrasound (US) in patients with suspected appendicitis and to identify the clinical factors that were associated with the nondiagnostic US. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 412 patients who had graded-compression appendiceal US performed during January 2017 and December 2017. The NPV of the nondiagnostic US in combination with clinical parameters was calculated. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors for the nondiagnostic US. Results: The US exam was nondiagnostic in 64.8% of the patients, giving an NPV of 70.8%. The NPV of nondiagnostic US increased to 96.2% in patients who had an Alvarado score of <5. The patients who did not have migratory pain, did not have leukocytosis, and had a pain score of <7 were more likely to have a nondiagnostic US study (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Alvarado score had an inverse effect on the NPV of nondiagnostic appendiceal US. Patients who had nondiagnostic US and Alvarado score of <5 were very unlikely to have appendicitis. Active clinical observation or re-evaluation rather than immediate computed tomography may be a safe alternative approach in these low-risk patients. However, the Alvarado score itself was not a predictive factor of nondiagnostic US. The absence of migratory pain, absence of leukocytosis, and low pain score were the independent predictors of nondiagnostic appendiceal US.
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Salim J, Agustina F, Maker JJR. Pre-Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pediatric Acute Appendicitis: Risk Factors Model and Diagnosis Modality in a Developing Low-Income Country. Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr 2022; 25:30-40. [PMID: 35087731 PMCID: PMC8762600 DOI: 10.5223/pghn.2022.25.1.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Pediatric acute appendicitis has a stable incidence rate in Western countries with an annual change of -0.36%. However, a sharp increase was observed in the Asian region. The Indonesian Health Department reveals appendicitis as the fourth most infectious disease, with more than 64,000 patients annually. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify and evaluate the risk factors and diagnostic modalities for accurate diagnosis and early treatment. This study also clarifies the usage of pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) for children <5 years of age. METHODS The current study employed a cross-sectional design with purposive sampling through demographic and PAS questionnaires with ultrasound sonography (USG) results. The analysis was performed using the chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests and logistic regression. RESULTS This study included 21 qualified patients with an average age of 6.76±4.679 years, weighing 21.72±10.437 kg, and who had been hospitalized for 4.24±1.513 days in Siloam Teaching Hospital. Compared to the surgical gold standard, PAS and USG have moderate sensitivity and specificity. Bodyweight and stay duration were significant for appendicitis (p<0.05); however, all were confounders in the multivariate regression analysis. Incidentally, a risk prediction model was generated with an area under the curve of 72.73%, sensitivity of 100.0%, specificity of 54.5%, and a cut-off value of 151. CONCLUSION PAS outperforms USG in the sensitivity of diagnosing appendicitis, whereas USG outperforms PAS in terms of specificity. This study demonstrates the use of PAS in children under 5 years old. Meanwhile, no risk factors were significant in multivariate pediatric acute appendicitis risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Salim
- Faculty of Medicine, Pelita Harapan University, Tangerang, Indonesia
| | - Flora Agustina
- Faculty of Medicine, Pelita Harapan University, Tangerang, Indonesia
- Pediatric Surgery Department, Siloam Hospitals Lippo Village, Tangerang, Indonesia
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Emile SH, Elfallal AH, Elbaz SA, Elmetwally AM. Development and validation of risk prediction score for incisional surgical site infection after appendectomy. Updates Surg 2021; 73:2189-2197. [PMID: 33394358 DOI: 10.1007/s13304-020-00944-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Surgical site infection (SSI) is a challenging and resource-consuming healthcare problem. Predicting the onset of SSI beforehand can help prevent or minimize its incidence. The present study aimed to determine the independent predictors of incisional SSI after open appendectomy using a multivariate analysis and to establish a predictive risk score of SSI after appendectomy. Records of eligible patients who underwent open appendectomy were reviewed. The characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients were collected and analyzed. Significant association between different variables and SSI after appendectomy was examined by univariate analysis. Then, variables with a significant association with SSI were entered into a multivariate binary logistic regression analysis to determine the significant independent predictors of SSI. The study included 343 patients (51.3% female). Incisional SSI was recorded in 44 (12.8%) patients. Univariate analysis revealed five parameters with a significant association with SSI, including BMI > 30 kg/m2 (p < 0.0001), diabetes mellitus (DM) (p = 0.0001), total leukocyte count (p = 0.04), free intraperitoneal fluid (p < 0.0001), and perforated/gangrenous appendicitis (p < 0.0001). After identifying four significant independent predictors of incisional SSI by binary logistic regression analysis, a predictive risk score was developed. The independent predictors of SSI were DM (OR = 6.05, p = 0.005), free intraperitoneal fluid (OR = 6.94, p = 0.0001), obesity (OR = 8.94, p = 0.0001), and perforated/gangrenous appendicitis (OR = 24.64, p = 0.0001). Four independent predictors of incisional SSI after open appendectomy were found after multivariate analysis. A predictive risk score of SSI was developed and included obesity, DM, free intraperitoneal fluid, and perforated/gangrenous appendicitis as predictors of SSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameh Hany Emile
- Colorectal Surgery Unit, General Surgery Department, Mansoura University Hospitals, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed Hossam Elfallal
- Colorectal Surgery Unit, General Surgery Department, Mansoura University Hospitals, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Samy Abbas Elbaz
- Colorectal Surgery Unit, General Surgery Department, Mansoura University Hospitals, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Magdy Elmetwally
- Vascular Surgery Department, Mansoura University Hospitals, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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Teng TZJ, Thong XR, Lau KY, Balasubramaniam S, Shelat VG. Acute appendicitis-advances and controversies. World J Gastrointest Surg 2021; 13:1293-1314. [PMID: 34950421 PMCID: PMC8649565 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v13.i11.1293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Being one of the most common causes of the acute abdomen, acute appendicitis (AA) forms the bread and butter of any general surgeon's practice. With the recent advancements in AA's management, much controversy in diagnostic algorithms, possible differential diagnoses, and weighing the management options has been generated, with no absolute consensus in the literature. Since Alvarado described his eponymous clinical scoring system in 1986 to stratify AA risk, there has been a burgeoning of additional scores for guiding downstream management and mortality assessment. Furthermore, advancing literature on the role of antibiotics, variations in appendicectomy, and its adjuncts have expanded the surgeon's repertoire of management options. Owing to the varied presentation, diagnostic tools, and management of AA have also been proposed in special groups such as pregnant patients, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. This article seeks to raise the critical debates about what is currently known about the above aspects of AA and explore the latest controversies in the field. Considering the ever-evolving coronavirus disease 2019 situation worldwide, we also discuss the pandemic's repercussions on patients and how surgeons' practices have evolved in the context of AA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Zheng Jie Teng
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Xuan Rong Thong
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Kai Yuan Lau
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | | | - Vishal G Shelat
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Department of Undergraduate Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore 308232, Singapore
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Imataki H, Miyake H, Nagai H, Yoshioka Y, Shibata K, Kambara Y, Yuasa N. Appendix-preserving elective herniorrhaphy for de Garengeot hernia: two case reports. Surg Case Rep 2021; 7:246. [PMID: 34807319 PMCID: PMC8608983 DOI: 10.1186/s40792-021-01329-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emergency appendectomy is often performed for de Garengeot hernia. However, in some cases, there may be a chance to perform an appendix-preserving elective surgery. CASE DESCRIPTION A 76-year-old woman presented to our hospital with complaints of a right inguinal swelling, which we diagnosed as a de Garengeot hernia using computed tomography (CT). B-mode ultrasonography (US) of the mass showed an appendix 4-6 mm in diameter with a clear wall structure; color Doppler US showed pulsatile blood flow signal in the appendiceal wall. Twenty-eight days later, herniorrhaphy with transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) was performed without appendectomy. Another 70-year-old woman presented to our hospital with complaints of a painful bulge in the right inguinal region. The diagnosis of de Garengeot hernia was made using CT. B-mode US showed an appendix 5 mm in diameter with a clear wall structure. Color Doppler US showed a pulsatile blood signal in the appendiceal wall. Seven days later, herniorrhaphy with TAPP was performed without appendectomy. CONCLUSION De Garengeot hernia is often associated with appendicitis; however, an appendix-preserving elective herniorrhaphy can be performed if US and intraoperative findings do not suggest appendicitis or circulatory compromise in the appendix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromitsu Imataki
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, 3-35 Michishita-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, 453-8511, Japan.
| | - Hideo Miyake
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, 3-35 Michishita-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, 453-8511, Japan
| | - Hidemasa Nagai
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, 3-35 Michishita-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, 453-8511, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Yoshioka
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, 3-35 Michishita-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, 453-8511, Japan
| | - Koji Shibata
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, 3-35 Michishita-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, 453-8511, Japan
| | - Yuichi Kambara
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, 3-35 Michishita-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, 453-8511, Japan
| | - Norihiro Yuasa
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Aichi Medical Center Nagoya Daiichi Hospital, 3-35 Michishita-cho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, 453-8511, Japan
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Tahapary M, Cornelis A, Peersman B, Van den Bosch T. Diagnosis of appendicitis by transvaginal ultrasound examination. Australas J Ultrasound Med 2021; 24:102-105. [PMID: 34765418 DOI: 10.1002/ajum.12235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Appendicitis is a frequent cause of abdominal pain. Symptoms may be atypical, and the appendix may not be visualised through abdominal ultrasonography. This case report illustrates the important role transvaginal ultrasound examination may have in the diagnostic workup of abdominal pain. Methods A case report focussing on imaging through transvaginal ultrasonography and comparing the ultrasonographic findings with CT-scan, as well as macroscopic examination and microscopy. Results A 33-year-old woman presenting at the emergency department with lower abdominal pain since 1 week. Transvaginal ultrasound shows a typical 'target sign' together with a blind-ending fluid-filled structure posterolateral right of the uterus, suggestive of appendicitis. These findings are confirmed on CT-scan, and a laparoscopic appendectomy is performed. We present the typical ultrasound imaging alongside the correlates on CT-scan as well as on macroscopy and on microscopic examination. Conclusion As gynaecologists, we must maintain a high degree of suspicion for non-gynaecological findings. This case report illustrates the value of transvaginal ultrasound in diagnosing appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malou Tahapary
- Department of Gynaecology-Obstetrics RZ Tienen Tienen Belgium.,Department of Gynaecology-Obstetrics UZ Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - Ann Cornelis
- Department of Pathology RZ Tienen Tienen Belgium
| | | | - Thierry Van den Bosch
- Department of Gynaecology-Obstetrics RZ Tienen Tienen Belgium.,Department of Gynaecology-Obstetrics UZ Leuven Leuven Belgium
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Zosimas D, Lykoudis PM, Strano G, Burke J, Al-Cerhan E, Shatkar V. Bilirubin is a specific marker for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:1056. [PMID: 34434270 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Total serum bilirubin and other biochemical parameters have been associated with acute appendicitis, mainly in complicated cases. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of biochemical parameters in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, and to further investigate the role of bilirubin as a diagnostic marker irrespective of the severity of the pathology. All recorded cases of appendicectomies in a 1-year period in a single institution were reviewed. The median values of white cell count, C-reactive protein and total serum bilirubin on admission were associated with final histology, and their respective rates of abnormal and normal values were compared between patients who were proven to have negative histology and patients who were proven to have acute appendicitis. A total of 300 patients were studied. Median total serum bilirubin, white cell count and C-reactive protein on admission were significantly associated with acute appendicitis (P<0.001). Respective rates of normal and abnormal values were significantly associated with final histology (P<0.001). Total serum bilirubin demonstrated higher specificity (0.88) but lower sensitivity (0.26) and diagnostic accuracy (0.40) for acute appendicitis. In conclusion, total serum bilirubin on admission should be considered in the diagnostic workup to confirm rather than exclude appendicitis, without focusing on subgroups of specific severity of the disease. White cell count and C-reactive protein may also contribute to the diagnostic work-up, although with limited accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Zosimas
- Department of General Surgery, Queen's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Romford RM7 0AG, UK
| | - Panagis M Lykoudis
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Giuseppe Strano
- Department of General Surgery, Queen's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Romford RM7 0AG, UK
| | - Josh Burke
- Department of General Surgery, Queen's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Romford RM7 0AG, UK
| | - Eyad Al-Cerhan
- Department of General Surgery, Queen's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Romford RM7 0AG, UK
| | - Veeranna Shatkar
- Department of General Surgery, Queen's Hospital, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Romford RM7 0AG, UK
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Tunc E, Fraundorf E, Worley S, Aquino M, Magnuson D, Lampl BS, Jennings S, Fertel BS. The use of a pediatric appendicitis pathway in a large integrated health system reduced computed tomography imaging in the ED. Am J Emerg Med 2021; 50:211-217. [PMID: 34392140 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2021.07.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appendicitis is the most common cause of an acute surgical abdomen in children. Diagnosis is often challenging as few pediatric patients present with classic symptoms. Clinicians are thus dependent on imaging to reach an accurate diagnosis. Although computerized tomography (CT) has high sensitivity and specificity, it has the disadvantage of imparting ionizing radiation. Ultrasound (US) is readily available and has comparable accuracy to CT when performed by experienced sonographers. We sought to examine the impact of a system-wide process improvement plan on CT use and other metrics in pediatric patients who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with suspected appendicitis. METHODS This is a retrospective study of the impact of a Pediatric Appendicitis Pathway (PAP) within a large integrated hospital system with 12 EDs including 3 designated hub EDs. Patients were placed in an initial risk category utilizing the Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS), and received US of the appendix at a hub ED if indicated by the PAS. Patients presenting to community EDs who required US appendix were transferred to hub EDs for imaging. Patients presenting in the 6-month pre-implementation period were compared to patients presenting in a 14-month post-implementation period on CT and US utilization, negative and missed appendectomy rates, and ED length of stay (LOS). RESULTS 1874 patients (401 pre-PAP and 1473 post-PAP) were included in the study. At the hub EDs the rate of CT imaging for suspected appendicitis was reduced from 31% to 17% with a resultant increase in US utilization from 83% (333/401) to 90% (1331/1473) (p < 0.001). At community general EDs (404 pre-PAP and 449 post-PAP), the rate of CT was decreased from 45% (181/404) to 32%(144/449) (p < 0.001)) There was no significant change in the negative appendectomy rate pre-PAP (1/59 = 1.7%) and post-PAP (4/168 = 2.4%) (p = 0.99) at the hub EDs. There were no missed appendicitis cases after PAP implementation compared to 1 case in the pre-PAP period. Overall LOS was similar pre and post-PAP, however LOS was longer in patients that required transfer from community general EDs to hub EDs (median 264 vs 342 min, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS A PAP that stratified patients into risk groups using the PAS and encouraged the use of US as a first line imaging modality, reduced the number of CT performed in a large integrated health system without significant changes to clinical outcomes. Furthermore, transferring select patients for an US as opposed to obtaining an initial CT in community general EDs was feasible and reduced CT use in the pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emine Tunc
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Erika Fraundorf
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Emergency Services Institute, Cleveland Clinic Health System and Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio, United States of America
| | - Sarah Worley
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Health System and Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio, United States of America
| | - Michael Aquino
- Division of Pediatric Radiology, Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic Health System and Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio, United States of America
| | - David Magnuson
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic Health System and Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio, United States of America
| | - Brooke S Lampl
- Division of Pediatric Radiology, Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic Health System and Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Jennings
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Pediatric Institute, Cleveland Clinic Health System and Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio, United States of America
| | - Baruch S Fertel
- Emergency Services Institute and Enterprise Quality and Safety, Cleveland Clinic Health System and Lerner College of Medicine in Cleveland Ohio, United States of America.
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Harringa JB, Bracken RL, Markhardt BK, Ziemlewicz TJ, Lubner M, Chiu A, Birstler J, Pickhardt PJ, Reeder SB, Repplinger MD. Magnetic resonance imaging versus computed tomography and ultrasound for the diagnosis of female pelvic pathology. Emerg Radiol 2021; 28:789-796. [PMID: 33730220 PMCID: PMC11491055 DOI: 10.1007/s10140-021-01923-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging compared with computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) when evaluating for five common pelvic pathologies among women presenting to the emergency department (ED) with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. METHODS This prospective, single-center study was conducted at an academic ED as a sub-analysis of a direct comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of CT and MR in the evaluation of appendicitis. Patients were eligible for participation in the parent study if they were at least 12 years old and had a CT performed for evaluation of possible appendicitis. In the current study, only female patients who also underwent pelvic US were included. Three radiologists independently interpreted each MR examination specifically for the presence of pelvic pathology, knowing that patients had initially undergone imaging evaluation for possible appendicitis. The determination of an independent expert panel of two radiologists and one emergency physician based on surgical pathology, comprehensive chart review, clinical information, and follow-up phone calls served as the reference standard. Test characteristics of MR, CT, and US were calculated based on this; the main outcome measure was the summary sensitivity and specificity of MR versus CT and US. RESULTS Forty-one participants were included with a mean age of 27.6 ± 10.8 years. The MR consensus interpretation had an overall sensitivity and specificity of 57.1% (CI 38.8-75.5%) and 97.2% (CI 94.7-99.6%) respectively, for detecting any of the five pelvic pathologies. By comparison, CT exhibited sensitivity and specificity of 66.7% (CI 50.0-83.5%) and 98.3% (CI 96.4-100.0%) while it was 64.3% (CI 46.5-82.0%) and 97.7% (CI 95.6-99.9%) for US, respectively. No significant differences were identified when comparing these modalities. Overall, Fleiss' kappa interrater reliability value for MR interpretation was 0.75, corresponding to substantial agreement between the three readers. CONCLUSIONS In women who might otherwise undergo multiple imaging tests to evaluate gastrointestinal versus pelvic pathologies, our data suggest that MR may be an acceptable first-line imaging test.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Harringa
- BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Rebecca L Bracken
- BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - B Keegan Markhardt
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Timothy J Ziemlewicz
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Meghan Lubner
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Arthur Chiu
- BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Jen Birstler
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Perry J Pickhardt
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Scott B Reeder
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Michael D Repplinger
- BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA.
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA.
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Zago M, Biloslavo A, Mariani D, Pestalozza MA, Poillucci G, Bellio G. Surgeon-performed ultrasound for the staging of acute diverticulitis: Preliminary results of a prospective study. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2021; 91:393-398. [PMID: 34108421 DOI: 10.1097/ta.0000000000003229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CEACT) is still considered the criterion standard for the assessment of suspected acute diverticulitis, in recent years, the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been spreading more and more in this setting. The aim of this study was to compare CEACT to POCUS for the diagnosis and staging of suspected acute diverticulitis. METHODS This is a prospective study conducted on 55 patients admitted to the emergency department of two Italian Hospitals with a clinical suspicion of acute diverticulitis between January 2014 and December 2017. All the patients included underwent POCUS first and CEACT immediately afterward, with the diagnosis and the staging reported according to the Hinchey (H) classification modified by Wasvary et al. [Wasvary H, Turfah F, Kadro O, Beauregard W. Same hospitalization resection for acute diverticulitis. Am Surg. 1999;65:632-635.] Three surgeons performed all the POCUS, and the same two radiologists retrospectively analyzed all the CEACT images. The radiologists were informed of the clinical suspicion but unaware of the POCUS findings. The CEACT was used as the criterion standard for the comparison. RESULTS The final cohort included 30 females (55%) and 25 males (45%). The median age was 62 years (range, 24-88 years), and the median body mass index was 26 kg/m2 (range, 19-42 kg/m2). Forty-six of 55 patients had a confirmed diagnosis of acute diverticulitis on both POCUS and CEACT, whereas, in 7 patients, the diagnosis was not confirmed by both methods. Point-of-care ultrasound sensitivity and specificity were 98% and 88%, respectively. Point-of-care ultrasound positive and negative predictive values were 98% and 88%, respectively. Point-of-care ultrasound accuracy was 96%. Point-of-care ultrasound classified 33 H1a, 11 H1b, 1 H2, and 1 H3 acute diverticulitis. This staging was confirmed in all patients but three (93%) by CEACT. CONCLUSION Point-of-care ultrasound appeared a reliable technique for the diagnosis and the staging of clinically suspected H1 and H2 acute diverticulitis. It could contribute in saving time and resources and in avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure to most patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic test, level III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Zago
- From the Robotic and Emergency Surgery Department (Z.M.), General and Emergency Surgery Division, A. Manzoni Hospital, ASST Lecco, Lecco; Department of General Surgery (B.A., B.G.), Cattinara University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Trieste; Department of General Surgery (M.D.), Legnano Hospital, ASST Legnano; Department of Radiology (P.M.A.), Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan; and Department of Radiology (P.G.), Cattinara University Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Trieste, Italy
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48
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Diagnostic Applications of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Emerg Med Clin North Am 2021; 39:509-527. [PMID: 34215400 DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Point-of-care ultrasound has become an essential part of pediatric emergency medicine training and practice. It can have significant clinical benefits, including improving diagnostic accuracy and decreasing length of stay, and does not require radiation exposure for patients. In this review, we summarize the current diagnostic point-of-care ultrasound applications in pediatric emergency medicine, their evidence, and techniques.
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Shroff N, Bhargava P. Metastatic Cecal Adenocarcinoma presenting as acute appendicitis. Radiol Case Rep 2021; 16:2129-2132. [PMID: 34158906 PMCID: PMC8203588 DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.04.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This case report details the findings of metastatic colon cancer in an older male patient who initially presented with signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis. The patient underwent routine CT (Computed Tomography) imaging for diagnostic evaluation of appendicitis. Subsequently, the patient was found to have findings consistent with acute appendicitis secondary to obstruction from a cecal mass with evidence of hepatic and pulmonary metastases. This case report demonstrates the radiological findings of acute appendicitis secondary to metastatic colorectal disease and highlights the importance of considering underlying malignancy in cases of appendicitis occurring in older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neel Shroff
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555
| | - Peeyush Bhargava
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555
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50
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Luksaite-Lukste R, Kliokyte R, Samuilis A, Jasiunas E, Luksta M, Strupas K, Poskus T. Conditional CT Strategy-An Effective Tool to Reduce Negative Appendectomy Rate and the Overuse of the CT. J Clin Med 2021; 10:2456. [PMID: 34206008 PMCID: PMC8198775 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10112456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) remains challenging; either computed tomography (CT) is universally used or negative appendectomy rates of up to 30% are reported. Transabdominal ultrasound (TUS) as the first-choice imaging modality might be useful in adult patients to reduce the need for CT scans while maintaining low negative appendectomy (NA) rates. The aim of this study was to report the results of the conditional CT strategy for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. (2) Methods: All patients suspected of acute appendicitis were prospectively registered from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018. Data on their clinical, radiological and surgical outcomes are presented. (3) Results: A total of 1855 patients were enrolled in our study: 1206 (65.0%) were women, 649 (35.0%) were men, and the median age was 34 years (IQR, 24.5-51). TUS was performed in 1851 (99.8%) patients, and CT in 463 (25.0%) patients. Appendices were not visualized on TUS in 1320 patients (71.3%). Furthermore, 172 (37.1%) of 463 CTs were diagnosed with AA, 42 (9.1%) CTs revealed alternative emergency diagnosis and 249 (53.8%) CTs were normal. Overall, 519 (28.0%) patients were diagnosed with AA: 464 appendectomies and 27 diagnostic laparoscopies were performed. The NA rate was 4.2%. The sensitivity and specificity for TUS and CT are as follows: 71.4% and 96.2%; 93.8% and 93.6%. (4) Conclusion: A conditional CT strategy is effective in reducing NA rates and avoids unnecessary CT in a large proportion of patients. Observation and repeated TUS might be useful in unclear cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raminta Luksaite-Lukste
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Nephrourology and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-08661 Vilnius, Lithuania; (M.L.); (K.S.); (T.P.)
| | - Ruta Kliokyte
- Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Vilnius University, LT-08661 Vilnius, Lithuania; (R.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Arturas Samuilis
- Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Vilnius University, LT-08661 Vilnius, Lithuania; (R.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Eugenijus Jasiunas
- Centre of Informatics and Development, Vilnius University Hospital, Santara Clinics, LT-08661 Vilnius, Lithuania;
| | - Martynas Luksta
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Nephrourology and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-08661 Vilnius, Lithuania; (M.L.); (K.S.); (T.P.)
| | - Kestutis Strupas
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Nephrourology and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-08661 Vilnius, Lithuania; (M.L.); (K.S.); (T.P.)
| | - Tomas Poskus
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Nephrourology and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-08661 Vilnius, Lithuania; (M.L.); (K.S.); (T.P.)
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