The Value of the Alvarado Score for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

"Amr Sign": A Case-Control Study Evaluating the Diagnostic Value of a New Clinical Sign in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Introduction Acute appendicitis, a prevalent cause of acute abdominal pain and a common indication for emergency surgery, presents a diagnostic challenge due to its diverse clinical presentation and variability in appendix location and symptoms. Traditional diagnostic approaches, including physical examination, clinical scoring systems, and imaging techniques, have limitations. This study introduces the "Amr sign," a new diagnostic indicator characterized by sudden reflex hyperextension of the neck upon palpation of the right iliac fossa, which is hypothesized to reflect local peritoneal irritation from an inflamed appendix. Methods We conducted a prospective observational study at Alwakra Hospital from November 2016 to January 2019 that included 195 patients aged 15 years and older with right iliac fossa pain and an Alvarado score of four or more. The "Amr sign" was evaluated alongside standard clinical examination and imaging results. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed via histopathological confirmation, which is the gold standard. Results The "Amr sign" had a sensitivity of 68.6% and a specificity of 67.3%. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 89%, whereas the negative predictive value (NPV) was 45%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.679 for the "Amr sign" compared with 0.622 for the other imaging modalities, suggesting comparable diagnostic performance. The "Amr sign" demonstrated a higher likelihood ratio of a positive test (2.3) and a lower likelihood ratio of a negative test (0.46). Conclusion The "Amr sign" is a promising diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis, offering a simple, reliable, and quick test that can be performed by less experienced physicians. While its sensitivity and specificity are moderate, its high PPV suggests that it is particularly useful in confirming appendicitis. Further research and validation are needed to fully establish its role in clinical practice.

Evaluating the Diagnostic Accuracy of the Alvarado Score and Abdominal Ultrasound for Acute Appendicitis: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Background

Acute appendicitis is a complex diagnosis that often requires both clinical and radiological evaluation. Significant variations in diagnostic approaches are evident among clinicians and healthcare institutions. While certain guidelines advocate for risk stratification based on clinical characteristics, others emphasize the importance of pre-operative imaging. This study seeks to explore the accuracy of the Alvarado Score and abdominal ultrasound (AUS) in diagnosing acute appendicitis.

Methods

Suspected cases of appendicitis admitted to Al-Thora Hospital in Ibb, Yemen, from Jan 2021 to July 2022 were evaluated. The demographics, clinical, and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. This study assessed Alvarado scores (calculated based on clinical evaluation and laboratory data) and pre-operative AUS findings, correlating them with post-operative and histopathology findings. The Alvarado scores and AUS sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were assessed using the ROC curve.

Results

Out of 1021 cases of acute abdomen, 171 patients were suspected of appendicitis. Using AUS along with the Alvarado score, appendicitis was presumed in 137 patients who underwent appendectomy. 130 (94.9%) patients had positive intraoperative and histopathology findings while 7 (5.1%) had negative findings. The Alvarado Score had a sensitivity and specificity of 94.62% and 87.80% at cutoffs of 6, respectively [Area under the curve (AUC): 0.985; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.954 to 0.998; p < 0.0001]. Abdominal US showed a sensitivity of 98.46% and specificity of 82.93% (AUC:0.907; 95% CI, 0.853 to 0.946; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Alvarado's score and AUS exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing acute appendicitis. The substantial accuracy and efficacy of both the Alvarado score and AUS support their utilization as primary investigative tools in resource-limited settings. This approach can help avoid unnecessary appendectomies and minimize the financial burden on patients.

Predictive Factors of Acute Appendicitis in Children With Non-Visualized Appendix on Ultrasound: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Most studies have demonstrated the high accuracy of ultrasound for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) in children. However, the lack of visualization of the appendix on ultrasound is usually a challenge. The aim of this study was to identify any factors that might help the physician make the right decision when dealing with a child with suspected appendicitis and an appendix not seen on ultrasound. Patients and Methods: After receiving Institutional Review Board approval, we conducted a prospective study in a pediatric emergency department from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. All children under 14 years of age with suspected AA and an appendix not visualized on ultrasound were included. Results: During the study period, 333 children presented with suspected AA. Of these patients, 106 had an appendix not seen on ultrasound. Our patients' median age was 10 years (interquartile range [IQR], 8-11 years), with 54.7% (n = 58) of children being female. Twenty-five (23.6%) were ultimately diagnosed with AA based on pathologic examination. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that Alvarado score ≥6 and increased peri-appendiceal fat echogenicity were predictive for AA. The combination of these two factors provided a positive predictive value of 100%. A white blood cell (WBC) count ≤10 × 109/L and/or a C-reactive protein (CRP) level ≤6 mg/L makes the diagnosis of appendicitis unlikely. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study demonstrated that an Alvarado score at or above six and increased peri-appendiceal fat echogenicity are independent predictive factors of AA in children with non-visualized appendix on ultrasound. The combination of these two factors would confirm the diagnosis of AA in these patients.

Single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy versus traditional three-hole laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis in children by senior pediatric surgeons: a multicenter study from China

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of single-incision laparoscopy appendectomy (SILA) and traditional three-hole laparoscopy appendectomy (THLA) for the treatment of acute appendicitis in children.

Methods

The clinical data of children (<14 years old) who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy at Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Hubei Provincial Maternal Health Hospital and Qingdao Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2019 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the operation method, the patients were assigned to the SILA group or the THLA group. The clinical data, including the efficacy, and the surgical details, including the complications, of the two surgical methods were compared. The personal information of the children and the time of disease onset were recorded.

Results

In this study, the data of 588 patients, including 385 patients in the THLA group and 203 patients in the SILA group were collected. The baseline characteristics between the two groups of patients before surgery were comparable. There was no significant difference in the average operation time between the THLA group and the SILA group (56.31 ± 1.83 min vs. 57.48 ± 1.15 min, P > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in the average length of hospital stay between the THLA group and the SILA group (6.91 ± 0.24 days vs. 7.16 ± 0.36 days, P > 0.05). However, the FLACC scores of the SILA group (3.71 ± 0.78) were significantly lower than those of the THLA group (3.99 ± 0.56) on the second postoperative day, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The score of the questionnaire evaluating cosmetic appearance of the postoperative abdomen was significantly higher in the SILA group (15.81 ± 0.36) than in the THLA group (13.10 ± 0.24) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

SILA is more advantageous in terms of postoperative FLACC scores and cosmetic appearance in children than THLA. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications or other aspects between the two surgical methods.

Clinical Outcomes of Daytime Versus Nighttime Laparoscopic Appendectomy in Children

Aim of the study: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and complication rate of laparoscopic appendectomy in children operated on during the daytime versus nighttime. Methods: A total of 303 children who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into two study groups. The first group consisted of the patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy during the day shift from 07:00-21:00 (n = 171), while the patients in the second group underwent laparoscopic appendectomy during the night shift from 21:00-07:00 (n = 132). The groups were compared for baseline clinical and laboratory data, treatment outcomes, and complications. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables, while the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. A two-sided Fisher's exact test was used when the frequency of events in a certain cell was low. All p values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: The proportion of complicated appendicitis was almost the same in both patient groups (n = 63, 36.8% vs. n = 49, 37.1%, p = 0.960). Out of the total number of patients presenting during the daytime and nighttime, 11 (6.4%) and 10 (7.6%) developed a postoperative complication, respectively (p = 0.697). Additionally, rates of readmission (n = 5 (2.9%) vs. n = 2 (1.5%); p = 0.703), redo-surgery (n = 3 (1.7%) vs. n = 0; p = 0.260), conversion to open surgery (n = 0 vs. n = 1 (0.8%); p = 0.435) and length of hospital stay (n = 3 (IQR 1, 5) vs. n = 3 (IQR 2, 5); p = 0.368) did not differ significantly between daytime and nighttime appendectomies. The duration of the surgery was significantly shorter in patients presenting during the day than in those presenting at night (26 min (IQR 22, 40) vs. 37 min (31, 46); p < 0.001). Conclusions: Different shift times did not affect the treatment outcomes or complication rates for children receiving laparoscopic appendectomy.