[Validation of the Alvarado score in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to find out the values of the Alvarado score in diagnosis of acute appendicitis and its clinical applicability in our conditions.


METHODS
A prospective study performed from November 15 to January 20, 2001 included 68 patients of whom 52 were operated. Patients were examined at the emergency department, and all received Alvarado score, whereas the surgeon made the decision if there were indications for surgery. In order to verify the diagnosis, we also used histopathological findings.


RESULTS
From 52 operated patients, 43 (82.7%) had Alvarado score 7 or more, which confirms the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, and in all these patients the diagnosis was proved both intraoperatively and histopathologically. From 9 (17.2%) operated patients that had score less than 7, diagnosis of chronic appendicitis was proved in 3; in the rest 6 acute appendicitis was established. Alvarado score has high sensitivity of 87%, and average specificity of 60%.


CONCLUSIONS
In diagnosis of acute appendicitis Alvarado score has a high diagnostic value (82.7%). Alvarado score is a noninvasive, safe diagnostic procedure, which is simple, fast, reliable and repeatable, it can be used in all conditions, without expensive and complicated supportive diagnostic methods. Alvarado score increases the diagnostic certainty of clinical examination in diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
Crnogorac
S
S
Klinika za abdominalnu i endokrinu hirurgiju, Institut za hirurgiju, Medicinski fakultet, Novi Sad.
Lovrenski
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
Vrednost Alvaradovog skora u dijagnostici akutnog apendicitisa.