Could preoperative ultrasound examination improve the final outcome of appendectomies ?

Abstract EN

Objective : To assess the efficacy of abdominal ultrasound in diagnosing acute appendicitis.

Design : Retrospective study.

Setting : Salmaniya Medical Complex, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Method : Data collected from files of 312 patients who had appendectomy between 1 January to 31 December 2009.

Result : Three hundred twelve patients had appendectomy, 114 (36.5 %) had ultrasound (US) examination and only 57 (50 %) showed radiological findings positive for appendicitis.

Thiry-seven (11.9 %) patients had negative appendectomy.

Twenty-three (11.6 %) had negative appendectomy in clinical group, 3 (5.3 %) patients were negative in positive ultrasound group and 11 (19.3%) patients in negative ultrasound group.

Conclusion : Ultrasound is not a reliable test to diagnose appendicitis as it carries low sensitivity and specificity, although it showed good predictive positive value.