Increasing accuracy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis with modern diagnostic techniques.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-1-1986
Abstract
One hundred consecutive patients admitted to the hospital with the prospective diagnosis of appendicitis were evaluated retrospectively to determine the effect of the use of modern diagnostic techniques upon the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis. Appendectomy was performed on 48 patients. In three of these patients, the diagnostic process was assisted by the use of radiologic or ultrasound techniques. Of the 52 patients who did not undergo appendectomy, 13 patients clearly avoided surgery or were steered towards an other appropriate operative procedure due to findings on ultrasound or barium enema. Ultrasound was particularly useful in differentiating the etiology of right lower quadrant pain in the childbearing aged female. This study demonstrates that the traditionally expected 15% normal appendix rate can be narrowed (6.25% in this group of patients) without increasing morbidity, with the use of sophisticated diagnostic techniques in the evaluation of selected patients who present diagnostic dilemmas.
Volume
52
Issue
4
First Page
222
Last Page
225
ISSN
0003-1348
Published In/Presented At
Kniskern, J. H., Eskin, E. M., & Fletcher, H. S. (1986). Increasing accuracy in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis with modern diagnostic techniques. The American surgeon, 52(4), 222–225.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
3513683
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article