Long-term risk of death in patients with infection attended by prehospital emergency services. / Modelo de riesgo de mortalidad a largo plazo en pacientes con infección atendidos por servicios de emergencias prehospitalarios.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a risk model for 1-year mortality based on variables available from early prehospital emergency attendance of patients with infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational, noninterventional multicenter study in adults with suspected infection transferred to 4 Spanish hospitals by advanced life-support ambulances from June 1, 2020, through June 30, 2022. We collected demographic, physiological, clinical, and analytical data. Cox regression analysis was used to develop and validate a risk model for 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Four hundred ten patients were enrolled (development cohort, 287; validation cohort, 123). Cumulative mortality was 49% overall. Sepsis (infection plus a Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score of 2 or higher) was diagnosed in 29.2% of survivors vs 56.7% of nonsurvivors. The risk model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.89 for 1-year mortality. The following predictors were included in the model: age; institutionalization; age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index; PaCO2; potassium, lactate, urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels; fraction of inspired oxygen; and diagnosed sepsis. CONCLUSION: The model showed excellent ability to predict 1-year mortality based on epidemiological, analytical, and clinical variables, identifying patients at high risk of death soon after their first contact with the health care system.

OBJETIVO: Diseñar y validar un modelo de riesgo con variables determinadas a nivel prehospitalario para predecir el riesgo de mortalidad a largo plazo (1 año) en pacientes con infección. METODO: Estudio multicéntrico, observacional prospectivo, sin intervención, en pacientes adultos con sospecha infección atendidos por unidades de soporte vital avanzado y trasladados a 4 hospitales españoles entre el 1 de junio de 2020 y el 30 de junio de 2022. Se recogieron variables demográficas, fisiológicas, clínicas y analíticas. Se construyó y validó un modelo de riesgo para la mortalidad a un año usando una regresión de Cox. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 410 pacientes, con una tasa de mortalidad acumulada al año del 49%. La tasa de diagnóstico de sepsis (infección e incremento sobre el SOFA basal $ 2 puntos) fue del 29,2% en supervivientes frente a un 56,7% en no supervivientes. El modelo predictivo obtuvo un área bajo la curva de la característica operativa del receptor para la mortalidad a un año fue de 0,89, e incluyó: edad, institucionalización, índice de comorbilidad de Charlson ajustado por edad, presión parcial de dióxido de carbono, potasio, lactato, nitrógeno ureico en sangre, creatinina, saturación en relación con fracción inspirada de oxígeno y diagnóstico de sepsis. CONCLUSIONES: El modelo desarrollado con variables epidemiológicas, analíticas y clínicas mostró una excelente capacidad predictiva, y permitió identificar desde el primer contacto del paciente con el sistema sanitario, a modo de evento centinela, casos de alto riesgo.

Modelo de riesgo de mortalidad a largo plazo en pacientes con infección atendidos por servicios de emergencias prehospitalarios / Long-term risk of death in patients with infection attended by prehospital emergency services

Objetivo: Diseñar y validar un modelo de riesgo con variables determinadas a nivel prehospitalario para predecir el riesgo de mortalidad a largo plazo (1 año) en pacientes con infección. Métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, observacional prospectivo, sin intervención, en pacientes adultos con sospecha infección atendidos por unidades de soporte vital avanzado y trasladados a 4 hospitales españoles entre el 1 de junio de 2020 y el 30 de junio de 2022. Se recogieron variables demográficas, fisiológicas, clínicas y analíticas. Se construyó y validó un modelo de riesgo para la mortalidad a un año usando una regresión de Cox.Resultados: Se incluyeron 410 pacientes, con una tasa de mortalidad acumulada al año del 49%. La tasa de diagnóstico de sepsis (infección e incremento sobre el SOFA basal $ 2 puntos) fue del 29,2% en supervivientes frente a un 56,7% en no supervivientes. El modelo predictivo obtuvo un área bajo la curva de la característica operativa del receptor para la mortalidad a un año fue de 0,89, e incluyó: edad, institucionalización, índice de comorbilidad de Charlson ajustado por edad, presión parcial de dióxido de carbono, potasio, lactato, nitrógeno ureico en sangre, creatinina, saturación en relación con fracción inspirada de oxígeno y diagnóstico de sepsis.Conclusiones: El modelo desarrollado con variables epidemiológicas, analíticas y clínicas mostró una excelente capacidad predictiva, y permitió identificar desde el primer contacto del paciente con el sistema sanitario, a modo de evento centinela, casos de alto riesgo.(AU)

Objectives: To develop and validate a risk model for 1-year mortality based on variables available from earlyprehospital emergency attendance of patients with infection. Methods: Prospective, observational, noninterventional multicenter study in adults with suspected infection transferred to 4 Spanish hospitals by advanced life-support ambulances from June 1, 2020, through June 30, 2022. We collected demographic, physiological, clinical, and analytical data. Cox regression analysis was used to develop and validate a risk model for 1-year mortality. Results: Four hundred ten patients were enrolled (development cohort, 287; validation cohort, 123). Cumulative mortality was 49% overall. Sepsis (infection plus a Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score of 2 or higher) was diagnosed in 29.2% of survivors vs 56.7% of nonsurvivors. The risk model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.89 for 1-year mortality. The following predictors were included in the model: age; institutionalization; age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index; PaCO2; potassium, lactate, urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels; fraction of inspired oxygen; and diagnosed sepsis. Conclusions: The model showed excellent ability to predict 1-year mortality based on epidemiological, analytical, andclinical variables, identifying patients at high risk of death soon after their first contact with the health care system.(AU)

Lactate improves the predictive ability of the National Early Warning Score 2 in the emergency department.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the ability to predict 2-, 7-, 14-, and 30-day in-hospital mortality of lactate vs the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) vs the arithmetic sum of the NEWS2 plus the numerical value of lactate (NEWS2-L). METHODS: This was a prospective, multicentric, emergency department delivery, pragmatic cohort study. To determine the predictive capacity of lactate, we calculated the NEWS2 and NEWS2-L in adult patients (aged >18 years) transferred with high priority by ambulance to the emergency department in five hospitals of Castilla y Leon (Spain) between November 1, 2019, and September 30, 2020. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of each of the scales was calculated in terms of mortality for every time frame (2, 7, 14, and 30 days). We determined the cut-off point of each scale that offered highest sensitivity and specificity using the Youden index. RESULTS: A total of 1716 participants were included, and the in-hospital mortality rates at 2, 7, 14, and 30 days were of 7.8% (134 cases), 11.6% (200 cases), 14.2% (243 cases), and 17.2% (295 cases), respectively. The best cut-off point determined in the NEWS2 was 6.5 points (sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 59%), and for lactate, the cut-off point was 3.3 mmol/L (sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 72%). Finally, the combined NEWS2-L showed a cut-off point of 11.7 (sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 85%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the NEWS2, lactate, and NEWS2-L in the validation cohort for 2-day mortality was 0.889, 0.856, and 0.923, respectively (p<0.001 in all cases). CONCLUSIONS: The new score generated, NEWS2-L, obtained better statistical results than its components (NEWS2 and lactate) separately.

The Value of Prehospital Early Warning Scores to Predict in - Hospital Clinical Deterioration: A Multicenter, Observational Base-Ambulance Study.

OBJECTIVES: Early warning scores are clinical tools capable of identifying prehospital patients with high risk of deterioration. We sought here to contrast the validity of seven early warning scores in the prehospital setting and specifically, to evaluate the predictive value of each score to determine early deterioration-risk during the hospital stay, including mortality at one, two, three and seven- days since the index event. Methods: A prospective multicenter observational based-ambulance study of patients treated by six advanced life support emergency services and transferred to five Spanish hospitals between October 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019. We collected demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables. Seven risk score were constructed based on the analysis of prehospital variables associated with death within one, two, three and seven days since the index event. The area under the receiver operating characteristics was used to determine the discriminant validity of each early warning score. Results: A total of 3,273 participants with acute diseases were accurately linked. The median age was 69 years (IQR, 54-81 years), 1,348 (41.1%) were females. The overall mortality rate for patients in the study cohort ranged from 3.5% for first-day mortality (114 cases), to 7% for seven-day mortality (228 cases). The scores with the best performances for one-day mortality were Vitalpac Early Warning Score with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of 0.873 (95% CI: 0.81-0.9), for two-day mortality, Triage Early Warning Score with an AUROC of 0.868 (95% CI: 0.83-0.9), for three and seven-days mortality the Modified Rapid Emergency Medicine Score with an AUROC of 0.857 (0.82-0.89) and 0.833 (95% CI: 0.8-0.86). In general, there were no significant differences between the scores analyzed. Conclusions: All the analyzed scores have a good predictive capacity for early mortality, and no statistically significant differences between them were found. The National Early Warning Score 2, at the clinical level, has certain advantages. Early warning scores are clinical tools that can help in the complex decision-making processes during critical moments, so their use should be generalized in all emergency medical services.

How Health Habits Influence the Physiological Response During a Physical Activity in Extreme Temperatures?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to determine to what degree the health habits of university students influence their physiological response during a 10-min high-intensity exercise. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional cohort study with 59 health science students, in which we analyzed their adherence to a Mediterranean and low-fat diet, as well as their activity levels. We correlated these factors with the physiological response (lactic acid and heart rate) and a series of anthropometric parameters in intense physical activity (cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for 10 min) in three scenarios: extreme cold, extreme heat and a control situation at room temperature. RESULTS: The results of this study demonstrate that in university students, a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a better response to physical exercise, in this case, 10-min CPR, in hostile environments. CONCLUSIONS: Following healthy eating guidelines improves physical performance and delays the appearance of fatigue; both are important aspects for a better performance of CPR.

Accuracy of prehospital point-of-care lactate in early in-hospital mortality.

BACKGROUND: Emergency medical services (EMS) routinely face complex scenarios where decisions should be taken with limited clinical information. The development of fast, reliable and easy to perform warning biomarkers could help in such decision-making processes. The present study aims at characterizing the validity of point-of-care lactate (pLA) during prehospital tasks for predicting in-hospital mortality within two days after the EMS assistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, multicentric, ambulance-based and controlled observational study without intervention, including six advanced life support and five hospitals. The pLA levels were recorded during EMS assistance of adult patients. The validity of pLA to determine the in-hospital mortality was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating curve (ROC). RESULTS: A total of 2997 patients were considered in the study, with a median of 69 years (IQR 54-81) and 41.4% of women. The median pLA value was 2.7 mmol/L (1.9-3.8) in survivors and 5.7 mmol/L (4.4-7.6) in nonsurvivors. The global discrimination level of pLA reached an AUC of 0.867, being 1.9 mmol/L and 4 mmol/L the cut-off point for low and high mortality. The discrimination value of pLA was not affected by sex, age or pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the clinical importance of prehospital pLA to determine the in-hospital risk of mortality. The incorporation of pLA into the EMS protocols could improve the early identification of risky patients, leading to a better care of such patients.

Prehospital Point-Of-Care Lactate Increases the Prognostic Accuracy of National Early Warning Score 2 for Early Risk Stratification of Mortality: Results of a Multicenter, Observational Study.

The objective of this study was to assess whether the use of prehospital lactate (pLA) can increase the prognostic accuracy of the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) to detect the risk of death within 48 h. A prospective, multicenter study in adults treated consecutively by the emergency medical services (EMS) included six advanced life support (ALS) services and five hospitals. Patients were assigned to one of four groups according to their risk of mortality (low, low-medium, medium, and high), as determined by the NEWS2 score. For each group, the validity of pLA in our cohort was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In this study, 3081 participants with a median age of 69 years (Interquartile range (IQR): 54-81) were included. The two-day mortality was 4.4% (137 cases). The scale derived from the implementation of the pLA improved the capacity of the NEWS2 to discriminate low risk of mortality, with an AUC of 0.910 (95% CI: 0.87-0.94; p < 0.001). The risk stratification provided by the NEWS2 can be improved by incorporating pLA measurement to more accurately predict the risk of mortality in patients with low risk.

Predictive value of the prehospital NEWS2-L ­National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate­ for detecting early death after an emergency. / Valor predictivo del preNEWS2-L (Pre-hospital National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate) para la detección de la mortalidad precoz en el ámbito prehospitalario.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ability of the prehospital National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate (preNEWS2-L) to predict early mortality, defined as death within 48 hours of the index event. We also explored the predictive capacity of the score for 7- and 30-day all-cause mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational longitudinal study in patients attended by ambulance responders and transferred to the emergency departments of reference hospitals. We collected demographic, physiologic, clinical, and analytical data and the main diagnosis. The main outcome measure was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: s. A total of 707 patients were included. Thirty-seven patients (5.2%) died within 48 hours of the index event. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the preNEWS2-L score's prediction of early death was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.83-0.96). The AUCs for death within 7 and 30 days were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79-0.92) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76-0.87), respectively, showing that the score's ability to predict death decreases by almost 10% between 48 hours and 30 days. CONCLUSION: The preNEWS2-L is a useful prognostic tool that can be assessed quickly and easily in prehospital settings.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la capacidad de la escala Pre-hospital National Early Warning Score 2 lactate (preNEWS2-L) para predecir la mortalidad precoz (antes de 48 h) desde el suceso índice. Además, como objetivo secundario, analizar el rendimiento de la nueva escala para la mortalidad a 7 y 30 días por cualquier causa. METODO: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y longitudinal de pacientes que son atendidos por unidades móviles de emergencias y trasladados a los servicios de urgencias de su hospital de referencia. Se recogieron variables demográficas, fisiológicas, clínicas, analíticas y de diagnóstico principal. La variable de resultado principal fue la mortalidad por cualquier causa. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 707 pacientes. La mortalidad precoz tras el suceso índice antes de las primeras 48 h fue de 37 pacientes (5,2%). La escala preNEWS2-L obtuvo un área bajo la curva (ABC) de la característica operativa del receptor (COR) de 0,91 (IC 95%: 0,83-0,96; p < 0,001), 0,86 (IC 95%: 0,79-0,92; p < 0,001) y 0,82 (IC 95%: 0,76- 0,87; p < 0,0017) para la mortalidad a 2, 7 y 30 días, respectivamente. Su capacidad de valorar la mortalidad desciende prácticamente un 10% entre el ABC-ROC a los 2 días y el ABC a los 30 días. CONCLUSIONES: La escala generada, denominada preNEWS2-L, puede ser considerada una herramienta pronóstico muy útil para ser usada en el medio prehospitalario, por facilidad de manejo, rápida obtención y capacidad de predicción.

Valor predictivo del preNEWS2-L (Pre-hospital National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate) para la detección de la mortalidad precoz en el ámbito prehospitalario / Predictive value of the prehospital NEWS2-L -National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate- for detecting early death after an emergency

Objetivos: Evaluar la capacidad de la escala Pre-hospital National Early Warning Score 2 lactate (preNEWS2-L) para predecir la mortalidad precoz (antes de 48 h) desde el suceso índice. Además, como objetivo secundario, analizar el rendimiento de la nueva escala para la mortalidad a 7 y 30 días por cualquier causa. Método: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y longitudinal de pacientes que son atendidos por unidades móviles de emergencias y trasladados a los servicios de urgencias de su hospital de referencia. Se recogieron variables demográficas, fisiológicas, clínicas, analíticas y de diagnóstico principal. La variable de resultado principal fue la mortalidad por cualquier causa. Resultados: Se incluyeron 707 pacientes. La mortalidad precoz tras el suceso índice antes de las primeras 48 h fue de 37 pacientes (5,2%). La escala preNEWS2-L obtuvo un área bajo la curva (ABC) de la característica operativa del receptor (COR) de 0,91 (IC 95%: 0,83-0,96; p < 0,001), 0,86 (IC 95%: 0,79-0,92; p < 0,001) y 0,82 (IC 95%: 0,760,87; p < 0,0017) para la mortalidad a 2, 7 y 30 días, respectivamente. Su capacidad de valorar la mortalidad desciende prácticamente un 10% entre el ABC-ROC a los 2 días y el ABC a los 30 días. Conclusiones: La escala generada, denominada preNEWS2-L, puede ser considerada una herramienta pronóstico muy útil para ser usada en el medio prehospitalario, por facilidad de manejo, rápida obtención y capacidad de predicción

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of the prehospital National Early Warning Score 2 Lactate (preNEWS2-L) to predict early mortality, defined as death within 48 hours of the index event. We also explored the predictive capacity of the score for 7- and 30-day all-cause mortality. Methods: Prospective, observational longitudinal study in patients attended by ambulance responders and transferred to the emergency departments of reference hospitals. We collected demographic, physiologic, clinical, and analytical data and the main diagnosis. The main outcome measure was all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 707 patients were included. Thirty-seven patients (5.2%) died within 48 hours of the index event. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for the preNEWS2-L score's prediction of early death was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.83-0.96). The AUCs for death within 7 and 30 days were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79-0.92) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76-0.87), respectively, showing that the score's ability to predict death decreases by almost 10% between 48 hours and 30 days. Conclusion: The preNEWS2-L is a useful prognostic tool that can be assessed quickly and easily in prehospital settings

Analysis of the early warning score to detect critical or high-risk patients in the prehospital setting.

The early warning score can help to prevent, recognize and act at the first signs of clinical and physiological deterioration. The objective of this study is to evaluate different scales for use in the prehospital setting and to select the most relevant one by applicability and capacity to predict mortality in the first 48 h. A prospective longitudinal observational study was conducted in patients over 18 years of age who were treated by the advanced life support unit and transferred to the emergency department between April and July 2018. We analyzed demographic variables as well as the physiological parameters and clinical observations necessary to complement the EWS. Subsequently, each patient was followed up, considering their final diagnosis and mortality data. A total of 349 patients were included in our study. Early mortality before the first 48 h affected 27 patients (7.7%). The scale with the best capacity to predict early mortality was the National Early Warning Score 2, with an area under the curve of 0.896 (95% CI 0.82-0.97). The score with the lowest global classification error was 10 points with sensitivity of 81.5% (95% CI 62.7-92.1) and specificity of 88.5% (95% CI 84.5-91.6). The early warning score studied (except modified early warning score) shows no statistically significant differences between them; however, the National Early Warning Score 2 is the most used score internationally, validated at the prehospital scope and with a wide scientific literature that supports its use. The Prehospital Emergency Medical Services should include this scale among their operative elements to complement the structured and objective evaluation of the critical patient.

Índice de perfusión en una reanimación con riesgo biológico, como medida de mala tolerancia fisiológica / Perfusion index in a resuscitation with biological risk, as a measure of poor physiological tolerance

Introducción: Realizar de una forma adecuada una reanimación cardiopulmonar precisa unos conocimientos técnicos y unas mínimas condiciones físicas. Realizar esta reanimación un equipo de protección individual frente a riesgos biológicos nivel D colocado aumenta el sobresfuerzo al que se ven sometidos los reanimadores.El objetivo de este estudio es comprobar la existencia de un patrón de mala tolerancia fisiológica al uso de los equipos de protección nivel D, categoría 4-5-6B para la actuación en incidentes con riesgo biológico objetivado mediante la medición del índice de perfusión antes y después de una reanimación simulada.Material y métodos: Se ha realizado un estudio cuasiexperimental no controlado sobre 96 voluntarios elegidos mediante un muestreo aleatorio estratificado por sexo, nivel de formación y categoría profesional, estudiantes de Medicina y Enfermería y profesionales Médicos y Enfermeros. Se realizó una toma del índice de perfusión antes de realizar la reanimación y otra después de la reanimación simulada.Resultados: Un 15% de los voluntarios presentaron un índice de perfusión posterior más bajo al basal, lo que se traduce en una situación de vasoconstricción periférica después de la realización del ejercicio físico que supuso el caso clínico, cuando lo esperable era una vasodilatación para aumentar la perfusión.Conclusiones: Extrapolando estos datos, podemos concluir que, en la muestra de estudio que nos ocupa, los voluntarios que presentan menos índice de perfusión al finalizar que al comenzar no toleran bien el esfuerzo que supone el caso clínico

Introduction: Perform a cardiopulmonary resuscitation requires technical knowledge and minimal physical conditions. Perform this resuscitation a team of individual protection against biological risks level D placed increases the overexertion that encourage rescuers are subjected.The objective of this study is to prove the existence of a pattern of poor physiological tolerance to the use of personal protective equipment level D, category 4-5-6B for action in incidents with biological risk objectified by measuring the perfusion index before and after a simulated resuscitation.Material and methods: We have performed a quasiexperimental not controlled on 96 volunteers chosen through a random sampling, stratified by sex, level of education and professional category, medical and nursing students and professionals doctors and nurses.A decision of the perfusion index before performing the resuscitation and other simulated after resuscitation.Results: A 15% of the volunteers presented a perfusion index lower back to baseline, which translates into a situation of peripheral vasoconstriction after the completion of the physical exercise that involved the clinical case, when expected was a vasodilatation to Increase perfusion.Conclussion: Extrapolating these data, we can conclude that, in the sample for the study, the volunteers who have less perfusion index at the end of that at the beginning do not tolerate well the effort involved in the case

Does Gender Influence Physiological Tolerance in Resuscitators When Using Personal Protection Equipment against Biological Hazards?

INTRODUCTION: Certain professions, such as those related to emergency services, have usually been performed by men, progressively incorporating women into these professions. The main objective of our study was to determine, according to gender, how the use of level D biohazard personal protection equipment (PPE) affects emergency professionals during the performance of resuscitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An uncontrolled quasi-experimental study was performed on 96 volunteers selected by means of random sampling stratified by gender. Baseline and final vital signs of the assessment activity were analyzed. This activity involves volunteers performing a simulated resuscitation in a controlled environment whilst wearing personal protective suits in a biohazard situation. RESULTS: Analyzing the physiological tolerance pattern parameter by parameter, and according to gender, through a univariate model, we can observe that there is no interaction between tolerance and gender; that is, having good or bad tolerance does not depend on gender. Conclusion. This specialized skilled work can be performed by any properly trained professional.

Fístula carótido-cavernosa espontánea, un diagnóstico diferencial del ojo rojo / Spontaneous carotid-cavernous fistula, a differential diagnostic of red eye

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Indicación y utilidad de la ecografía urgente en la sospecha de apendicitis aguda / Indication and usefulness of ultrasonography for suspected acute appendicitis at the emergency department

Objetivo: La apendicitis aguda es la patología quirúrgica aguda abdominal más frecuente. Su diagnóstico constituye uno de los problemas más habituales en los servicios de urgencias. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar la utilidad de la ecografía abdominal en el diagnóstico de esta entidad. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo realizado entre enero y junio del 2004 de todas las consultas realizadas en el servicio de urgencias por dolor abdominal indicativo de probable abdomen agudo, en los que se realizó una ecografía abdominal para descartar apendicitis aguda. Resultados: Se realizaron 2.015 ecografías abdominales urgentes de las cuales 296 fueron solicitadas para descartar el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda, de éstas 288 fueron valorables. En 52 pacientes la ecografía fue indicativa de apendicitis aguda. En 15 casos el diagnóstico ecográfico fue discordante con el diagnóstico final. En 6 pacientes el informe ecográfico de apendicitis no se confirmó a posteriori. En 9 casos la ecografía fue no diagnóstica pese al diagnóstico quirúrgico de apendicitis aguda. Con estos datos, el rendimiento global de la ecografía para el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda, se tradujo en una sensibilidad del 83,7%, especificidad del 97,4%, valor predictivo positivo del87,7%, valor predictivo negativo del 96,2%.Conclusiones: El rendimiento global de la ecografía abdominal en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda en nuestro medio es aceptable. Debido a su accesibilidad y bajo costees la prueba idónea para el diagnóstico en urgencias, sobre todo en casos dudosos (AU)

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Material and methods: Retrospective study which included patients presented in the emergency department with abdominal pain of suspected acute abdominal disorder origin and remitted to undergone ultrasonography to rule out appendicitis from January to July 2004.Results: Among 2015 ultrasonography scans 296 were performed to exclude a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. 288could be interpreted and the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was established in 52. In 15 cases the ultrasonography and the definite diagnosis differed. Ultrasonography and surgical diagnosis were different in 6 patients. In 9 patients the ultrasonography was not diagnostic. Ultrasound sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 83,7%, 97,4%, 87,7% and 96,2%, respectively. Conclusions: The global cost-effectiveness of ultrasonography to diagnose appendicitis is good. Due to its availability and its low cost, ultrasonography is an accurate test for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in emergency departments, specially in uncertain cases (AU)