Performance of imaging studies in patients with suspected appendicitis after stratification with adult appendicitis score.

Background: Diagnostic scoring is used to stratify patients with suspected appendicitis into three groups: high, intermediate, and low probability of appendicitis. The stratification can be used for selective imaging to avoid the harms of radiation without compromising diagnostic accuracy. The aim was to study how stratification by Adult Appendicitis Score affects diagnostic performance of imaging studies.

High admission C-reactive protein level and longer in-hospital delay to surgery are associated with increased risk of complicated appendicitis.

Purpose: Debate on the effect of in-hospital delay on the risk of perforation in appendicitis persists, and the results from previous studies are controversial. The aims of this study were to present the effect of in-hospital delay on the risk of perforation in appendicitis and to assess the utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement in detecting the patients with complicated appendicitis.

Methods: Prospectively collected data of 389 adult patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis were analyzed in order to find the most accurate method for recognizing the pre-hospital perforations.

A new adult appendicitis score improves diagnostic accuracy of acute appendicitis--a prospective study.

Background: The aim of the study was to construct a new scoring system for more accurate diagnostics of acute appendicitis. Applying the new score into clinical practice could reduce the need of potentially harmful diagnostic imaging.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 829 adults presenting with clinical suspicion of appendicitis, including 392 (47%) patients with appendicitis.