MODIFIED ALVARADO SCORE

ACCURACY IN DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN ADULTS

Abstract

objective: To compare the frequency of inflamed appendix in suspected patients of acute appendicitis having Modified Alvarado Score (MAS) of 7 or more with patients having MAS of 6 or below. Design: Comparative cross sectional study. Place and duration of study: The study was carried out at Surgical Departments of Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and Military Hospital (MH) Rawalpindi from April 2006 to April 2007. Material and Methods: This study involved 100 patients who were operated with provisional diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Preoperatively MAS of each patient was calculated and the patients were divided in two groups. Group-I had MAS of 7 or more while Group-II had MAS of 6 or below. Postoperatively appendices of all the patients were sent for histopathological examination and its result regarding presence or absence of acute appendicitis was then compared with MAS of respective group. Results: (a) Group-I:- A total of 72 patients with 64(88.9%) positive inflamed appendices on histology. Negative appendicectomy rate 8(11.1%), (b) Group-II:- A total of 28 patients with 8(28.6) positive inflamed appendices. Negative appendicectomy rate 20(71.4%). There is statistical significant difference of positive appendicectomy rate between two groups with (p-value<0.001). Conclusion: Frequency of inflamed appendix is more in patients having MAS of seven or
above. The number of negative appendicectomies can be reduced by using MAS in clinical practice.