Application of a clinical score for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in childhood: a retrospective analysis of 197 patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to validate a clinical scoring system for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in childhood.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively applied a clinical scoring system on 197 consecutive pediatric patients operated on for acute appendicitis. They therefore looked for a correlation between the management suggested by the scoring system and pathologic diagnosis on surgical specimens.


RESULTS
Based on final pathologic specimen, surgery has been performed unnecessarily in 23% of cases. The proposed scoring system could have reduced unnecessary surgery to 2%. Only 8% of patients with acute appendicitis would have been discharged home. Sensitivity and specificity of the scoring system used in this study was 87% and 86%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical scoring system proposed in this study could be of help in early clinical diagnosis of appendicitis to reduce the rate of unnecessary emergency surgery.
Dado
G
G
Department of Surgery, University of Udine School of Medicine, Italy.
Anania
G
G
Baccarani
U
U
Marcotti
E
E
Donini
A
A
Risaliti
A
A
Pasqualucci
A
A
Bresadola
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity