Integrated clinical-ultrasonographic diagnosis in acute appendicitis

Basic practices for gastrointestinal ultrasound

The standard diagnostic modalities for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases have long been endoscopy and barium enema. Recently, trans-sectional imaging modalities, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, have become increasingly utilized in daily practice. In transabdominal ultrasonography (US), the bowel sometimes interferes with the observation of abdominal organs. Additionally, the thin intestinal walls and internal gas can make structures difficult to identify. However, under optimal US equipment settings, with identification of the sonoanatomy and knowledge of the US findings of GI diseases, US can be used effectively to diagnose GI disorders. Thus, the efficacy of GIUS has been gradually recognized, and GIUS guidelines have been published by the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology and the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. Following a systematic scanning method according to the sonoanatomy and precisely estimating the layered wall structures by employing color Doppler make diagnosing disease and evaluating the degree of inflammation possible. This review describes current GIUS practices from an equipment perspective, a procedure for systematic scanning, typical findings of the normal GI tract, and 10 diagnostic items in an attempt to help medical practitioners effectively perform GIUS and promote the use of GIUS globally.

Gastrointestinal Ultrasound in Emergency Setting

Acute bowel diseases are responsible for more than one third of subjects who were referred to the emergency department for acute abdominal pain and gastrointestinal evaluation. Gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) is often employed as the first imaging method, with a good diagnostic accuracy in the setting of acute abdomen, and it can be an optimal diagnostic strategy in young females due to the radiation exposure related to X-ray and computed tomography methods. The physician can examine the gastrointestinal system in the area with the greatest tenderness by ultrasound, thus obtaining more information and data on the pathology than the standard physical examination. In this comprehensive review, we have reported the most relevant indications and advantages to using ultrasound in the investigation of abdominal acute pain.

Accuracy of Point-of-care Ultrasonography for Diagnosing Acute Appendicitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The use of ultrasonography (US) to diagnose appendicitis is well established. More recently, point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) has also been studied for the diagnosis of appendicitis, which may also prove a valuable diagnostic tool. The purpose of this study was through systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the test characteristics of POCUS, specifically US performed by a nonradiologist physician, in accurately diagnosing acute appendicitis in patients of any age.

METHODS

We conducted a thorough and systematic literature search of English language articles published on point-of-care, physician-performed transabdominal US used for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis from 1980 to May, 2015 using OVID MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-indexed Citations and Scopus. Studies were selected and subsequently independently abstracted by two trained reviewers. A random-effects pooled analysis was used to construct a hierarchical summary receiver operator characteristic curve, and a meta-regression was performed. Quality of studies was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool.

RESULTS

Our search yielded 5,792 unique studies and we included 21 of these in our final review. Prevalence of disease in this study was 29.8%, (range = 6.4%-75.4%). The sensitivity and specificity for POCUS in diagnosing appendicitis were 91% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 83%-96%) and 97% (95% CI = 91%-99%), respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 91 and 94%, respectively. Studies performed by emergency physicians had slightly lower test characteristics (sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 92%). There was significant heterogeneity between studies (I² = 99%, 95% CI = 99%-100%) and the quality of the reported studies was moderate, mostly due to unclear reporting of blinding of physicians and timing of scanning and patient enrollment. Several of the studies were performed by a single operator, and the education and training of the operators were variably reported.

CONCLUSION

Point-of-care US has relatively high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing acute appendicitis, although the data presented are limited by the quality of the original studies and large CIs. In the hands of an experienced operator, POCUS is an appropriate initial imaging modality for diagnosing appendicitis. Based on our results, it is premature to utilize POCUS as a stand-alone test or to rule out appendicitis.

Revival of the use of ultrasound in screening for appendicitis in young adult men

PURPOSE

Our primary aim was to evaluate the use of ultrasound (US) as an initial screening test for diagnosing appendicitis in young adult men. Secondary exploratory analyses included the effects of using US for initial screening in these patients, compared with the use of CT, on radiation exposure, length of stay (LOS), and cost of imaging.

METHODS

We retrospectively gathered data from the records of male patients 18-39 years old who had been admitted with appendicitis between June 2006 and September 2011. We investigated the diagnostic tests performed, the patients' characteristics, and the pathologic testing findings and compared the results obtained on US with those obtained on CT.

RESULTS

Of 451 included patients, 86 had undergone US initially. Its sensitivity was only 57% (95% confidence interval, 46-67.6), but its positive predictive value was 98% (95% confidence interval, 93.8-100). The mean LOS was significantly shorter for patients who had undergone US only (214 minutes) than it was for those who had undergone CT only (276 minutes; p < 0.001). We estimated a 57% reduction in CT use and radiation exposure if US were to be performed initially; this would lead to a 45% decrease in imaging costs at our institution.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening US should be considered first for diagnosing appendicitis because of its high positive predictive value, but even if US results are negative for appendicitis, one should not exclude the possible existence of pathology because US has poor sensitivity in this situation. We speculate that the use of screening US can decrease radiation exposure, imaging costs, and LOS.

Improving the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in suspected acute appendicitis by the combined transabdominal and transvaginal approach

Transabdominal ultrasound has a lower diagnostic yield in acute appendicitis than computed tomography (CT) scanning. The addition of transvaginal sonography in women with suspected appendicitis has shown improvement in the efficacy of diagnosis, potentially providing the option of selective CT use and reducing overall investigative cost and surgical delay. Two hundred ninety-two women who underwent combined transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound for suspected acute appendicitis were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups; Group 1 including patients with a positive sonographic diagnosis of appendicitis who underwent operation and Group 2 including patients with a negative sonographic diagnosis. Of the 157 women in Group 1, the diagnosis of appendicitis was histologically confirmed in 144 patients with five cases having a normal appendix in whom eight other pathologies were found. Of the 135 women with negative ultrasound examinations, 14 underwent surgery in which four cases of appendicitis were found. The sensitivity of the combined approach was 97.3 per cent, the specificity 91 per cent, the positive predictive value 91.7 per cent, and the negative predictive value 97 per cent. Combined ultrasound has a high predictive value for the diagnosis of appendicitis and may assist in reduction of the use of CT scanning for diagnosis and in the negative appendectomy rate.

The value of preoperative diagnostic tests in acute appendicitis, retrospective analysis of 196 patients

BACKGROUND

In this study our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of preoperative laboratory and radiological studies for appendicitis.

METHODS

The clinical data of 196 patients who have undergone conventional appendectomy between March 2007 and April 2008 were collected retrospectively. Patients were examined for age, sex, white blood cell count, ultrasonography results, histopathological diagnosis and hospital stay.

RESULTS

Negative appendectomy rate was 17.3% (27% for female, 11.5% for male). White blood cell counts were found to be high in 83% for acute appendicitis group and %61 for negative appendectomy group. There were 66 (34%) patients who had negative USG findings for acute appendicitis. Of these patients, histopathological examination revealed acute appendicitis in 46 patients whereas 20 patients had normal appendix. Hospital stays were 2.79 +/- 1.9 and 2.66 +/- 1.7 days for negative and positive appendicectomies respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Besides the improvement of diagnostic tests for acute appendicitis, we could not sufficiently reduce the negative appendectomy rate.

Apendicite aguda: análise institucional no manejo peri-operatório

RACIONAL: Apendicite aguda é a causa mais comum de abdômen agudo, responsável por elevada morbidade. Uma vez que o diagnóstico correto e precoce permanece um desafio, a compreensão de seu manejo peri-operatório é fundamental. OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil clínico e avaliar o manejo peri-operatório de pacientes adultos submetidos à apendicectomia laparotômica. Métodos - Foram analisados prospectivamente 88 pacientes submetidos à apendicectomia no período de nove meses. Todos os pacientes foram operados por laparotomia, e o tratamento cirúrgico instituído obedeceu ao padrão convencional de ressecção cirúrgica por incisão Davis-Rockey, McBurney ou mediana infra-umbilical. Foi realizada análise descritiva das prevalências segundo idade, sexo, sintomatologia e resultados de exames de imagem. Antibioticoterapia foi realizada com ciprofloxacin + metronidazol ou ampicilina-sulbactam. Os pacientes foram acompanhados durante o período de internação quanto à ocorrência de complicações precoces e tempo de permanência hospitalar. RESULTADOS: Trinta pacientes foram submetidos à ultrassonografia (56,7% mulheres) e cinco à tomografia computadorizada - todos do sexo feminino. O leucograma diferencial foi diretamente relacionado com fases avançadas de apendicite, guardando relação com aumento do número de bastões e segmentados e queda no número de eosinófilos e linfócitos. Sessenta pacientes (67%) fizeram antibioticoterapia e 38,33% deles tiveram perfuração apendicular. Complicações ocorreram em 23,8% dos casos, sendo que 11,4% relacionadas à infecção de ferida operatória em maior proporção relacionadas às fases avançadas de apendicite. CONCLUSÃO: Quanto maior a porcentagem de formas jovens na contagem leucocitária, mais avançada está a fase do processo inflamatório apendicular. As mulheres utilizam a ultrassonografia abdominal para esclarecimento diagnóstico em maior número do que os homens. Quanto mais avançado o estágio de evolução da apendicite, maior a prevalência de complicações.