Publication:

Augmentation of modified Alvarado score with abdominal ultrasound in diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Background Acute appendicitis is one of the commonest surgical emergencies. But confirming the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is still a subjective issue for clinicians. Modified Alvarado score is based on clinical and laboratory findings which is scored upto 9. Management of 5 to 7 modified Alvarado score came under equivocal. Either may be conservative or operative.

Methods We augmented the modified Alvarado score with abdominal ultrasound in diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Results Outcomes were evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and negative appendicectomy rate, results of our study are sensitivity 95.7%, specificity is 76.92%, PPV 93.75% and NPV 33.34%.

Conclusions Overall increased sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV of the augmented approach is useful for diagnosis of acute appendicitis which scored under 5-7 of modified Alvarado scoring system.