The importance of visualization of appendix on abdominal ultrasound for the diagnosis of appendicitis in children: A quality assessment review
10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2020.03.002
- Author:
Muhammad Akhter Hamid
;
Ruqiya Afroz
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Abdominal ultrasound;
Visualization;
Importance;
Appendix;
Abdominal pain;
Acute appendicitis;
Children;
Paediatric population
- From:
World Journal of Emergency Medicine
2020;11(3):140-144
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Ultrasound has the fi rst line investigation role in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis
in children. The purpose of this study was to perform a quality assessment review on the visualization rate
of appendix on ultrasound in children in the community hospital setting.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review of the abdominal ultrasound findings for the
visualization of the appendix was performed on paediatric patients ranging from 5 to 18 years. Data
were collected from the two community hospitals of Toronto by using hospital electronic medical
record for the ultrasound fi ndings in patients presented with abdominal pain.
RESULTS: Data from two community hospitals indicated visualization rate of the appendix as 11.0%
and 23.2% for site 1 and site 2 respectively. In cases where the ultrasound was repeated the visualization
rate remains the same. A two-proportion z-test was performed to find whether the visualization of
appendix increases the likelihood of diagnosing appendicitis. The results revealed that the visualization of
an appendix (P=0.52), signifi cantly improved the diagnosis of appendicitis (z=34, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Visualization of an appendix on ultrasound increases the likelihood of correctly
diagnosing appendicitis. In our study, we found low visualization rate of appendix on ultrasound that
could be the result of many factors that contribute towards the low visualization rate of an appendix
on ultrasound. Hence, the challenges in identifying appendix should be minimized to improve the
visualization and diagnosis of appendicitis on ultrasound.
