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PubMed1992

[The ultrasonic diagnosis of acute appendicitis and its complications].

The article discusses the possibility of ultrasonic examination (USE) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and its complications. Forty-five patients were examined, 15 of them had a doubtful clinical picture of acute appendicitis and in 30 destructive acute appendicitis was suspected. During USE the vermiform process was not detected in 5 patients, uncomplicated acute appendicitis was diagnosed in 10 and complicated acute appendicitis (appendicular infiltrate, abscess) in 30 patients. Eight patients underwent laparoscopy, 29 patients were subjected to an operative intervention, 15 patients received a course of nonoperative treatment followed by appendectomy 3-6 months later. As the result of the study the USE signs of acute appendicitis and its complications were specified. USE may be of significant aid to the surgeon in the diagnosis of this disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

The risk of perforation when children with possible appendicitis are observed in the hospital.

The morbidity rate from perforation demands that appendicitis be diagnosed promptly in children with abdominal pain. Although admitting and observing uncertain instances of appendicitis can refine the diagnostic accuracy, it is often claimed, but not proved, that this necessitates increasing the number of perforations. To assess the risk of perforation while observing uncertain instances of childhood appendicitis, we admitted 150 consecutive referrals during a period of one and one-half years. Immediate appendectomy was performed for 74 patients (49 percent) with convincing clinical signs and symptoms for appendicitis. The remaining 76 (51 percent) with unconvincing clinical signs and symptoms were observed as inpatients. One-third of the patients admitted for observation (26 of 76) underwent appendectomy after an average period of 12 hours. Two-thirds (50 of 76) of the patients got better and were discharged from the hospital without an appendectomy after an average admission of two days. Seven of the 100 appendices removed were normal. Three of the observed patients had perforations, one of whom may have perforated during observation, but that child went on to do well. The 50 patients who got well without appendectomy were similar to the patients with appendicitis, but significantly less likely to have peritoneal signs (8 versus 70 percent), tenderness in the right lower quadrant (48 versus 81 percent) and guarding (19 versus 75 percent). We conclude that admission and active observation in the hospital of children with possible, but unconvincing, signs and symptoms of appendicitis is a safe and effective way to determine which patients need an operation.

Appendectomy↗
PubMed2003

Mast cell density and neuronal hypertrophy in patients with acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the gastrointestinal system, the relationship between the enteric nervous system and mast cells has been described in normal and pathological conditions. However, a few studies have evaluated the association between the numbers of mast cells and the enteric nervous system in acute appendicitis. The aim of this study was to immunohistochemically investigate the relationship between mast cell density and the enteric nervous system in cases with clinically and histopathologically diagnosed acute appendicitis and in normal appendices. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with acute appendicitis and 12 cases with normal appendices were included in our study. Mast cell tryptase and PGP 9.5 immunostained tissue sections were subjected to quantitative image analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed that mast cell density, number of Schwann cells and the number and size of ganglia were significantly greater in acute appendicitis than in the control group (p<0.05). A strong correlation between mast cell density and neuronal proliferation and hypertrophy was detected only in cases with acute appendicitis. We failed to detect any relationship between mast cell density and neural components in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that mast cells could be one of the important cell populations responsible for nerve proliferation and hypertrophy in clinically and histopathologically diagnosed acute appendicitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

[Acute appendicitis--open or laparoscopic surgery?].

UNLABELLED: Laparoscopy is used more and more frequently in the treatment of abdominal emergencies including acute appendicitis. This technique has a lot of advantages especially in the group of the young female patients, where the differential diagnosis between gynecological diseases and appendicitis is difficult. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study is designed to compare the results of open and laparoscopic exploration in patients with suspected appendicitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1998-2001 we performed 278 operations for suspicion of appendicitis in the 2nd Dept. of Surgery of the Jagiellonian University. There were 127 laparoscopic procedures performed in 46 men and 81 women (mean age 28.6 years) and 151 classical exploration in 99 men and 52 women (mean age 37.9 years). We reviewed retrospectively the patients' data analysing age, sex, duration of the procedure, length of the hospital stay, intraoperative and postoperative complication rate. RESULTS: The patients operated classically were older than patients operated laparoscopically. The proportion of male and female patients was reversed in both types of exploration. The female patients composed a majority (2/3) in the case of laparoscopic procedures and minority (1/3) in the case of open operations. The average duration of open appendectomy was 43 min. as compared with 49 min. of laparoscopic procedure, which was however getting shorter in the analysed period. The mean length of the hospital stay was twice shorter after laparoscopic appendectomy (4.8 days vs 8.4 days). There were only 4 (3.15%) complications connected with laparoscopic technique and 34 (22.52%) complications after open appendectomy. There were 12 (9.45%) conversions, most of them in patients with the retrocoecal position of the appendix. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis was confirmed in similar percentage in both operation types (laparoscopy--78.74%, open technique--79.47%). There were also similar proportions of the patients with no macroscopical changes in the appendix and with other abdominal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy allows for the precise diagnosis and final treatment in most patients with the suspected acute appendicitis. Some patients also avoid laparotomy. Hospital stay is significantly shorter and complication rate is markedly lower among patients operated laparoscopically.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Laparoscopic versus open surgical exploration in premenopausal women with suspected acute appendicitis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the utility of laparoscopic versus conventional surgical exploration in premenopausal women with suspected acute appendicitis. METHOD: Female patients aged 15-45 years in whom an independent decision to undertake surgical exploration had been made, were randomised to laparoscopic or open procedures. Comparison of patient groups was conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent laparoscopic exploration, with 1 procedure requiring conversion to lower midline laparotomy. Open surgical exploration was performed primarily in 16 patients. Postoperative complications (3 patients versus 1 patient) and diagnostic errors (5 patients versus 1 patient) were more frequent in patients undergoing open surgical procedures. Laparoscopic procedures tended to be of longer duration than open operations, but were generally associated with slightly more favourable indices of postoperative recovery (analgesic requirement, postoperative hospitalisation, return to normal activity, return to work). In patients found not to have acute appendicitis, the difference in mean postoperative hospitalisation following laparoscopic intervention (2.6 days) and conventional surgery (3.4 days) approached statistical significance (p < 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy may carry some diagnostic advantage over open surgery in premenopausal women with suspected acute appendicitis. Patients found not to have acute appendicitis have a marginally shorter period of hospitalisation after laparoscopic intervention. The outcome following laparoscopic appendicectomy for confirmed acute appendicitis is at least equivalent to that achieved with conventional appendicectomy. Laparoscopic exploration is an acceptable option in premonopausal women requiring surgery for suspected acute appendicitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

[Quantified symptomatology of acute appendicitis in adults. The signs and their value].

Using a data base of 7,000 acute abdominal pains, we here described the assessed clinical manifestations of the main diseases responsible for right lower quadrant pain. However, percentages of sensibilities have been replaced by adverbs or adjectives, applying a scale of equivalence. The possible modifications of the positive predictive values have been also replaced by verbs or typical expressions. We first described the acute appendicitis syndrome (which covered congestive endoappendicitis and suppurated appendicitis) with the clinical shades or the gathered and gangrenous forms or even of the diffuse peritonitis. Features of the acute appendicitis contrast with those of the so called "non specified abdominal pains" (a new entity), and those of the subacute or chronic appendicitis. We found a good correlation between clinical and pathological findings. One of the difficulties has been to determine if a subgroup of subacute appendicitis should be or not included into the acute appendicitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute intestinal ischemia serum markers for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis].

INTRODUCTION: Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency of the abdomen, but is still misdiagnosed in a large number of cases because of the the poor accuracy of the different radiologic and laboratory exams. Like in intestinal ischemia, an ischemic factor causes necrosis of the appendiceal wall and this favors the release of particular biochemical serum markers. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intestinal ischemia serum markers as a diagnostic test for acute appendicitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred patients were studied prospectively. Depending on results of the examination by a surgeon, patients underwent surgery for acute appendicitis. Serum levels of amylase, lactic dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and leucocyte count were taken preoperatively. We then compared the results with histopathologic findings. RESULTS: Appendicitis was confirmed in 176 patients. Leukocytes had the highest sensitivity but very low specificity. Amylase and DHL were very specific but their sensitivity was poor. Differential leukocyte count had the highest positive predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: Serum enzymes of intestinal ischemia are not useful markers for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Leukocyte count is still the most useful serum marker of appendicitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Appendicitis in South Auckland, New Zealand.

AIM: To describe any variation in the management and outcome of appendicitis between New Zealand's major ethnic groups: New Zealand European, Maori, and Pacific (Island) people. METHODS: A retrospective study of 180 consecutive patients undergoing appendicectomy for appendicitis at Middlemore Hospital, South Auckland from 1 January 1997 to 31 April 1998 was undertaken. RESULTS: Appendicitis does not vary in incidence across the major ethnic groups of South Auckland. Maori and Pacific people had a trend towards a greater proportion of perforated appendicitis, which was not related to delayed presentation to hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Appendicitis is common in all ethnic groups and does not differ in incidence across ethnic groups in South Auckland. Our findings suggest that appendicitis is a more aggressive disease process in Maori and Pacific people compared to New Zealand Europeans. This warrants further research in a larger prospective study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

What are the true advantages of a pediatric appendicitis clinical pathway?

Multiple protocols have been described for pediatric appendicitis, but few have been compared with off-protocol treatment. We performed such a comparison. Children treated for appendicitis by three pediatric surgeons over a 28-month period were studied. A protocol of primary wound closure without drains, standardized use of antibiotics, and patient discharge according to pre-determined clinical criteria was compared with individualized drain use, antibiotic selection, and discharge timing. Three hundred ninety-seven children were treated, 43 per cent on pathway (Group I) and 57 per cent off pathway (Group II). The two groups showed similar incidence of acute (45% vs 46%), complicated (50% vs 49%), and normal (5%) appendix. Among patients with simple appendicitis, Group I had less postoperative antibiotic use (16% vs 80% P < 0.001), shorter hospital stays (1.44 vs 1.89 days, P = 0.001), and decreased hospital charges (dollars 9,289 vs dollars 10,751, P = 0.001). Among patients with complicated appendicitis, Group I had less drain placement (4% vs 27%, P < 0.001), less use of discharge antibiotics (13% vs 39%, P < 0.001), and no readmission (0% vs 5%, P = 0.05). Infectious complications were similar between the two groups. A clinical pathway decreases the use of unnecessary antibiotics, hospital stay, and charges for simple appendicitis. It decreases the use of unnecessary drains, and eliminates readmissions after complicated appendicitis.

Abdominal Abscess↗
PubMed1991

[Diagnostic role of echography in acute appendicitis in children].

Eighty-seven pediatric patients with suspected acute appendicitis underwent high-resolution US with graded abdominal compression. The study was limited to the patients with a questionable clinical diagnosis, accounting for about 40% of the patients examined for acute appendicitis in our Institution. US had 87.3% accuracy, 81.5% sensitivity, and 90% specificity. The main US findings in the positive cases were: visualization of the appendix as a tubular non-compressible structure, with a diameter of 5 mm or more, symmetric/asymmetric wall thickening, possible presence of appendicoliths and variable appearance of the central echogenic layer (preserved, doubled for lumen dilatation, partially/totally lost). The above US findings were grouped in 3 basic patterns: type I (thickened appendix with no structural abnormalities) appeared to be related to non-suppurative and phlegmonous acute appendicitis; type II (detectable appendiceal abnormalities) was observed both in phlegmonous and in suppurative acute appendicitis; type III (pericecal complex mass, frequently with appendicoliths) was found in all cases of periappendiceal abscess. In our experience, the use of US in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children allowed a reduction by about 2/3 in the rate of unnecessary laparotomies. Such a finding emerges from the comparison with the results obtained in the 2 years prior to the use of US. The technique also allowed an unquestionable diagnosis of acute appendicitis or periappendiceal abscess to be made in a number of clinically equivocal cases, thus avoiding potentially harmful delays in diagnosis. On the other hand, the incidence of false-negatives on US is not negligible, which calls for a cautious clinical and US evaluation of all equivocal cases following no typical US pattern.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Inheritance of acute appendicitis: familial aggregation and evidence of polygenic transmission.

We explored familiality as well as the heritability and possible mode(s) of inheritance of acute appendicitis in childhood and early adolescence. Our case-control study showed that a positive family history for reported appendectomy was significantly more frequent in families of 80 consecutive patients eventually proved to have histopathologic acute appendicitis than in families of surgical controls matched for sex, age, and number of siblings. The relative risk was 10.0 (95% confidence limits 4.7-21.4). The pattern of familial aggregation was further supported by the fact that the age-standardized morbidity ratio was four times greater among family members of cases than among controls. We then applied the unified mixed model of segregation analysis, as implemented in the computer program POINTER, to a new set of 100 multigenerational pedigrees of children with histopathologically confirmed acute appendicitis that were broken down into 674 nuclear families. Age-specific morbidity risk and lifetime incidence of acute appendicitis were estimated from relatives of controls matched for age and sex to probands. Complex segregation analysis supported a polygenic or multifactorial model with a total heritability of 56%. There was no evidence to support a major gene, although a rare gene could not be ruled out as the cause of a small proportion of cases. Specific studies to address genetic and environmental factors in this serious disease seem worthwhile; but, for now, a positive family history of appendicitis might join other evidence leading to improved clinical recognition of acute appendicitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

[Unresolved and debatable questions on the problem of appendicitis].

On the basis of histomorphologic examination of: 9907 biopsy specimens from appendix, obtained after its surgical removal because of appendicitis, 228 cases of senile involution of the appendix and appendix specimens from 125 children 30 days to 8 years of age who had been immunized with BCG vaccine intracutaneously and have died of miscellaneous diseases, the author debates on some poorly specified and moot points in the appendicitis problem. Appendicitis is sometimes considered a phase and in other cases a form of the disease. It is assumed that chronic appendicitis, as well as primary chronic appendicitis not preceded by acute inflammatory changes in the appendix, do exist. Sufficient morphologic criteria to distinguish chronic appendicitis from senile involution of the appendix are believed to exist.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Improving diagnostic accuracy in appendicitis.

After reviewing all 123 of these patients, here are some suggestions which may improve the accuracy of diagnosis of appendicitis. 1. Proceed slowly with any patient with equivocal history and physical exam +/- WBC less than 10,000. 2. Seriously consider U.T.I. or other renal pathology in patients with greater than 20 RBC +/or greater than 30 WBC/hfp (w/bacteria) as cause of RLQ pain, rather than appendicitis; i.e. only 1 of 81 patients with appendicitis had a coexistent U.T.I. 3. Be aware that pain starting in the RLQ is less common in appendicitis than in other conditions mimicking appendicitis. 4. Be wary of all women presenting with RLQ pain on days 1 through 10 of their menstrual cycle. 5. Consider a barium swallow or enema study in patients in categories 1-4 above looking for a normally filled appendix while a) observing patient and b) awaiting outstanding lab results (i.e. ur. cult., cerv. os cult., etc.). 6. Follow closely all patients in all of the above categories and operate for worsening condition. 7. Require classic or near classic history and physical findings in patients with WBC less 10,000 suspected of having appendicitis, prior to surgery. Footnotes to these suggestions are as follows: 1. Understand that following these suggestions may result in an increase in the incidence of perforation coincident with an increase in diagnostic accuracy. 2. Be less hesitant to operate on patients over 50 y.o. because of a) their frequent atypical presentations, and b) the known higher incidence of perforation in this age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

A clinical evaluation of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Recently ultrasonography (US) has proven effective in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. However, the impact of US on surgical decision-making in clinical practice remains unclear. From August 1986 to July 1987, 62 patients with clinical signs of acute appendicitis received US examinations after initial clinical evaluations. According to clinical pictures, they were classified into two groups: group I, clinically typical (Alvarado's score greater than or equal to 7) and group II, clinically dubious (Alvarado's score less than or equal to 6) cases. All group I patients (n = 34) had surgery. Group II patients (n = 28) received close in-hospital observation on an every 4-hour basis for less than 24 hours. However, surgery was performed if Alvarado's score increased up to or above 7 or surgical indications became evident during observation. The pathologic reports and operative findings were retrospectively correlated with the US diagnosis. For group I patients, clinical examination without knowledge of US findings was correct in 30 (88.9%) cases, 26 (86.7%) of which were detected by US. Four (50%) of eight patients with negative US findings had acute appendicitis. In group II, 12 of 15 patients who had surgery had acute appendicitis, and 10 (83.3%) were detected by US. Two (11%) of 18 patients with negative US findings were finally proved to have acute appendicitis. The average duration from initial clinical examination to surgical decision fpr patients with acute appendicitis was 6.8 hours. There were no false-positives in either group. For patients with typical clinical presentation, US is not superior to clinical examination, and surgery is recommended even if US findings are negative.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Prospective evaluation of C-reactive protein in patients suspected to have acute appendicitis.

C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured in 70 consecutive patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Of these, 28 patients (Group 1) had acute appendicitis, 25 patients (Group 2) had no identifiable focus of infection and improved with general supportive care, and 17 patients (Group 3) had an identifiable cause for their illness, though not appendicitis. CRP level was not helpful in distinguishing among patients in any group when symptoms were present for 12 hours or less. When symptoms were present for more than 12 hours, all patients in Groups 1 and 3 and half of the patients in Group 2 had a significant increase in CRP value. Thus, a normal CRP value in a patient presenting with a duration of symptoms of more than 12 hours occurred only in Group 2; this difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.001). When symptoms are present for more than 12 hours, an increased CRP value supports the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and will identify patients who have signs and symptoms similar to acute appendicitis but who have another identifiable illness. When the CRP value is normal in a patient who has had symptoms for more than 12 hours, this patient does not have acute, appendicitis and can be followed in an outpatient setting.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pregnancy.

Although the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnancy seems to be complicated by the physiologic changes of pregnancy, evidence from controlled studies is lacking. The aims of this study were to determine whether there are any features of appendicitis in pregnant women that would help to establish the diagnosis and whether any difference exists between the presentation of appendicitis in pregnant and nonpregnant women. Twenty-eight pregnant women with a clinical diagnosis of appendicitis were compared with an equal number of nonpregnant patients matched for age and randomly selected from a group of patients who had appendicitis. No differences were observed in the presenting symptoms, physical signs and laboratory tests. The false-positive rates were identical. The results indicated that the diagnosis of appendicitis is no more difficult in the pregnant state than in the nonpregnant state.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1989

Acute appendicitis: a clinical pattern in Port Harcourt Nigeria.

A retrospective study of 201 patients, 152 with simple and 49 with complicated, appendicitis is presented. Diagnosis of simple acute appendicitis was made on symptoms of abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, together with rebound abdominal tenderness and not on white blood cell count. Normal white blood cell count was found in 80.3% cases of simple acute appendicitis while elevated white cell count was associated with 85.7% of complicated appendicitis. There was no mortality in 152 patients who had appendectomies for uncomplicated acute appendicitis, but the mortality rate in the 49 patients with complications was 12.2%. This was responsible for the overall mortality rate of 3% for all appendectomies in this report. Complicated appendicitis in this review was largely due to pre-admission delays and the ingestion of strong cathartics, both of which could not be influenced by surgeons.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Value of diagnostic laparoscopy in young women with possible appendicitis.

Removal of a normal appendix because of suspected appendicitis occurs most frequently in women of reproductive age. We investigated the value of laparoscopy in the diagnostic evaluation for possible appendicitis in women of childbearing age. Fifty-one women were entered in a management protocol, which included diagnostic laparoscopy in instances with atypical features. Twenty patients underwent immediate appendectomy because of history and physical findings classical for appendicitis; 31 women with atypical history and physical findings underwent an initial diagnostic laparoscopy. In the group of patients who underwent immediate appendectomy because of classical presentation, five of the appendices removed were normal. At laparoscopy, appendicitis was diagnosed in five patients, another disease in 15 and no diagnostic abnormality was found in six. Five patients had a normal appendix removed, two because of questionable inflammation and three because of nonvisualization of the appendix. There were no false-negative examination results. Twenty-one patients required no further operative intervention after laparoscopy. The negative appendectomy rate remained unchanged (ten negative appendectomies of 30 performed). Definitive diagnoses of eight instances of pelvic inflammatory disease, six of ruptured ovarian cysts and one instance of ileitis of the small intestine were made earlier than would have been possible without diagnostic laparoscopy in this setting. Diagnostic laparoscopy permits earlier definitive diagnosis and prompt institution of appropriate therapy for disease of the female reproductive tract that simulates appendicitis. Caution is advised, however, when diagnostic laparoscopy is applied more frequently than right lower quadrant exploration in the management of probable appendicitis. The improvement in diagnostic accuracy may be offset by an increased number of negative appendectomies resulting from nonvisualization and false-positive inflammation.

Adult↗