ABSTRACT
Acute appendicitis is a common disease. It may be tough to identify even with radiological and laboratory investigations. Migratory pain in the abdomen is a helpful key symptom, provided the patient presents within 24 hours of onset of appendicitis. METHODSPatients clinically presenting as acute appendicitis and operated for appendicectomy were recruited in the study. The presence and absence of migratory pain in the abdomen were evaluated and compared with the histopathology of the appendix. Parameters of diagnostic accuracy were measured. RESULTSThe sensitivity and specificity of migration of abdominal pain was found to be 97 percent and 100 percent respectively. The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value was 100 percent and 94 percent respectively. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 98%. CONCLUSIONSMigratory pain in the abdomen is a significant symptom to identify as well to rule out acute appendicitis.
ABSTRACT
Acute appendicitis is a frequently encountered surgical disease. Detection is difficult even with imaging and blood investigations. Total leukocyte count is a promising investigation. Its role in the confirmation of acute appendicitis is investigated and analysed in the present study. MethodsPatients having acute appendicitis treated by surgical intervention (appendicectomy) were included in the study. The leukocyte count measured before surgery was compared with histopathology findings of the appendix. Parameters of diagnostic accuracy of leukocytosis were measured by standard formulae. ResultsThe sensitivity and specificity of leucocytosis were found to be 76 percent and 12.5 percent respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of leucocytosis was 65 percent and 20 percent respectively. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 56 percent. The results were compared with histopathology of acute appendicitis. ConclusionsLeukocytosis is a helpful investigation to support the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.