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The Role of Alvarado Score in Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Article Information

Anirudha Sardar1*, Asadullahil Galib2, Md. Shahidul Islam3, Dr. Dipayan Kumer Dhali4, Palash Kumar Dey5

Department of Surgery, Khulna Medical College Hospital, Khulna, Bangladesh

*Corresponding Author: Anirudha Sardar, Resident Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Khulna Medical College Hospital, Khulna, Bangladesh, orcid id: 0000-0001-6092-6946.

Received: 04 March 2023; Accepted: 14 March 2023; Published: 17 May 2023

Citation: Anirudha Sardar, Asadullahil Galib, Md. Shahidul Islam, Dipayan Kumer Dhali, Palash Kumar Dey. The Role of Alvarado Score in Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in a Tertiary Care Hospital. Journal of Surgery and Research. 6 (2023): 190-194.

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Abstract

Background: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal emergencies encountered in surgical practice. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is an enigmatic challenge. Several studies have reported a variable diagnostic accuracy with a negative appendectomy rate varying from 3% up to 20% using combined diagnostic modalities or using the Alvarado score alone.

Aim of the study: The present study was carried out to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the combined use of the Alvarado score for preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Methods: This hospital-based prospective study was conducted in the Department of Surgery at Khulna Medical College, Khulna, Bangladesh. The study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2022. A total of 67 patients were admitted to the surgical unit during the specified period with symptoms of acute appendicitis.

Result: This a prospective study; 67 patients were enrolled and analyzed. Every patient in the study had a complication of RIF tenderness. More than 70% of patients had complications like nausea/vomiting, pyrexia and leukocytosis. There were 66(98.51%) patients who had right iliac fossa pain and 40 (59.70%) patients who had anorexia.

Conclusion: Although the diagnosis of acute appendicitis remains mainly clinical evaluation, the scoring system is an easy, simple and cheap complementary aid for supporting the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Keywords

Alvarado score, Abdominal pain, Acute appendicitis, Appendectomy

Alvarado score articles; Abdominal pain articles; Acute appendicitis articles; Appendectomy articles

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Article Details

Introduction

Acute Appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen requiring surgical intervention. Approximately 30% of patients present with atypical clinical symptoms [1]. Anamnesis, physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging methods, and scoring systems are used to diagnose AA [2,3]. The Alvarado score (AS) is the most commonly used scoring system for diagnosing Appendicitis. The components of the Alvarado score are migration of pain, anorexia, nausea-vomiting, right lower quadrant tenderness (RLQT), rebound, temperature ≥37.3°C, leukocytosis, and increased neutrophilia. RLQT and leukocytosis score 2 points, while other parameters score 1 point [1-3]. In many studies, it has been recommended that patients with an AS ≤4 be discharged, those with an AS of 5-7 be monitored for 24 hours, and patients with an AS of 8-10 undergo surgery [3-6]. Acute Appendicitis is one of the most typical conditions responsible for the admission of patients to the hospital. The hospitalization rate for patients over 60 years old ranges from 18% to 42% [7]. Acute Appendicitis is the most common cause of an acute abdomen in a young adult, with a lifetime risk of about 6% [8]. Difficulty in diagnosis arises in very young, elderly patients and females of reproductive age because they usually have an atypical presentation and many other conditions also present. Appendicitis literature shows that 2-7% of all adults on exploration have diseases other than appendicitis [9]. Appendicitis may be associated with morbidity and occasionally mortality. If failure to diagnose early, the situation may become more complicated. These complications will lead to the appendix rupture, causing peritonitis and circulatory shock. Numerous studies have revealed that early diagnosis and timely operative intervention are crucial to managing acute Appendicitis. However, the picture of acute Appendicitis may not be classical, and in such situations, a policy of early surgery to avoid risk may lead to high negative appendicectomy rates". The simple scoring system developed by Alvarado in 1986 was evolved for affirmative and earlier diagnosis of acute Appendicitis. This scoring system is mainly based on history, examination and simple lab investigations, which include three symptoms (Migratory pain in the right iliac fossa, Anorexia, Nausea/Vomiting), three signs (Fever, Tenderness & Rebound tenderness in the right iliac fossa) and 2 lab investigations (Leucocytosis, shift to the left of neutrophils) [4].

Methodology and Materials

This hospital-based prospective study was conducted in the Department of Surgery at Khulna Medical College, Khulna, Bangladesh. The study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2022. A total of 67 patients were admitted to the surgical unit during the specified period with symptoms of acute appendicitis.

  • Inclusion Criteria:

Patients of any age group and both sexes presenting to the surgery department with symptoms of acute appendicitis with informed consent were included.

  • Exclusion Criteria:

Patients presenting with urological, gynaecological or other surgical problems including patients with mass in the right iliac fossa and those who are not willing/interested were excluded from this study

The admitted patients were subjected to thorough clinical examination, followed by other baseline investigations like, Hb, TLC, DLC, RFT, Urine examination, X-ray Chest, X-ray KUB and ECG was done. A proforma containing general information about the patient plus eight variables based on the Alvarado scoring system was filled. All the subjects included in the study remained in contact with the doctor for early post-operative complications. All data were presented in a suitable table or graph according to their affinity. A description of each table and the graph was given to understand them clearly. All statistical analysis was performed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) program, and Windows. Continuous parameters were expressed as mean±SD and categorical parameters as frequency and percentage. The significance of the results as determined by a value of P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Result

This a prospective study; 67 patients were enrolled and analyzed. Table 1 describes the scoring pattern in Alvarado’s score. It has ten scoring points according to symptoms, signs and laboratory findings. More than 35% of participants were from the age group 21-30 years, 20(29.85%) patients were from the age group 11-20, and 13 (19.40%) patients were from the age group 31-40 years (Table 2). In this study, male patients were more affected than females; male patients were 52.24%, and female patients were 47.76% (Figure 1). According to Alvarado’s score, 45 (67.16%) patients were from the score group 7-10, 15 (22.39%) patients were from the score group 5-6, and 7 (10.45%) patients were from the score group 1-4 (Table 3). Every patient in the study had a complication of RIF tenderness. More than 70% of patients had complications like nausea/vomiting, pyrexia and leukocytosis. There were 66 (98.51%) patients who had right iliac fossa pain and 40 (59.70%) patients who had anorexia (Table 4). We used three procedures for treatments; open appendicectomy was used to treat 19 (28.36%) patients, lap. Appendicectomy was used to treat 37 (55.55%) patients, and the conservative technique was used to treat 11 (16.42%) patients (Table 4). Table 5 shows the correlation of Alvarado’s score with histopathology revealing; 10 patients were biopsy positive and 46 patients were biopsy negative.

S. No

Symptoms

Score

1

Migratory right iliac fossa pain

1

2

Nausea/ Vomiting

1

3

Anorexia

1

Signs

1

Tenderness in right iliac fossa

2

2

Rebound tenderness in right iliac fossa

1

3

Elevated temperature

1

Laboratory findings

1

Leucocytosis

2

2

Shift to the left of neutrophils

1

Total

10

Table 1: Determination of scoring pattern in Alvarado score.

Interpretations of Alvarado’s score indicate with a score of 1-3 will be unlikely acute appendicitis, but to be kept on observation for 24-48 hours for any raise in Alvarado’s score. Score more than 4-6 probable (equivocal) acute appendicitis, and score 7-10 definitely (high probable) acute appendicitis.

Age (years)

Frequency

Percentage

05-10

2

2.99

11-20

20

29.85

21-30

24

35.82

31-40

13

19.4

41-50

3

4.48

51-60

2

2.99

61-70

3

4.48

Table 2: Age distribution of the study population (N=67).

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Figure 1: Sex distribution of the study population (N=67).

Distribution in the Different Grades of Alvarado Score

No. of Cases

Percentage

1-4

7

10.45

5-6

15

22.39

7-10

45

67.16

Total

67

100

Table 3: Distribution in the different grades of Alvarado score.

Variables

No. of Cases

Percentage

Alvarado's Components

Right Iliac Fossa Pain

66

98.51

Anorexia

40

59.70

Nausea / Vomiting

50

74.63

RIF Tenderness

67

100.00

Rebound Tenderness

48

71.64

Pyrexia

51

76.12

Leucocytosis

47

70.15

Arneth count

17

25.37

Treatment modalities

Open appendicectomy

19

28.36

Lap appendicectomy

37

55.22

Conservative

11

16.42

Table 4: Clinical presentation according to Alvarado's components demonstrating the Alvarado score.

Clinical score

Biopsy positive (N=10)

Biopsy negative (N=46)

N

%

N

%

5-7

8

80.00

42

91.30

8-10

2

20.00

4

8.70

Total (N=56)

10

100.00

46

100.00

Table 5: Correlation of Alvarado score with histopathology reveal.

Discussion

Since appendicitis is a surgical emergency of the inflamed appendix and most cases require immediate removal through surgery, either open or laparoscopic appendicectomy, necessary treatment modalities are required quickly to reduce mortality rates [10]. Therefore, a timely clinical decision is essential for better diagnosis with the evidence of history and clinical examination. Several studies demonstrated that a surgeon's timely decision is mandatory because unnecessary surgical intervention carries the risk of morbidity and mortality [11]. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is mainly clinical, though ultrasound and laparoscopy can be helpful. Sometimes the correct diagnosis could hardly be made [12]. Diagnostic accuracy regarding appendicitis also depends on the surgeon's experience, yet the need for supportive measures is always there [4]. C.T. Scan may resolve the issue supported by ultrasonography and assessment of C-reactive protein levels [13]. However, various scoring systems have been considered for a better outcome [14]. Numerous studies have revealed various scoring systems to diagnose appendicitis better [15]. Few studies highlighted the importance of the Alvarado score, but studies on the Bangladeshi population are rare. Therefore, the present investigation assesses the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis based on the Alvarado score. The Alvarado scoring system, first described in 1986, is a simple scoring system that can be instituted easily in the outpatient section. Alvarado scoring system (Table 1) works mainly based on the history, physical examination and few laboratory investigations, which remains the mainstay of correct diagnosis of acute appendicitis [11,16]. Out of 63 subjects, 83% were suspected of acute appendicitis and underwent appendicectomy. Of those operated on, eight subjects were found to have a normal appendix, and others were associated with pathology-related symptoms. The negative appendicectomy rate was found to be very less, representing a percentage of 9.6% (Table 5) [17-20]. Similarly, various studies also presented comparable data and represented the same incidence rates related to positive and negative appendicectomy [21]. Thus, our study is correlated to other studies demonstrating the sensitivity of the Alvarado scoring system [22]. In the present study, none of the patients with an Alvarado score below 4 had appendicitis. Hence, we admitted the patients with a score of 3 and above and assessed the impact of the Alvarado scoring system among these people. Therefore, ten patients with a score of 3 and 4 were admitted and kept under critical observation. After a thorough examination, none of them had appendicitis, and our findings strongly support the basis of the Alvarado scoring system. Another study has demonstrated similar observations [23]. Further, 22 patients exhibited a score between the range of 5 and 6 and were admitted into the hospital, out of which 15 were subjected to appendicectomy. In contrast, the remaining seven subjects were discharged on conservative treatment. Thus, the present study strongly supports that patients with an Alvarado Score of 4 or less have no appendicitis; thus, no surgical intervention is required. Our findings are correlated with other studies which demonstrated similar results [23]. However, patients with a score of 5 or above may require surgical intervention. Moreover, it is also important to note that the scoring may not be an objective criterion in patients who fails to give proper histories, such as those very young or those with a communication problem [21]. Several studies also support our findings [24]. 50 patients have exhibited Alvarado scores between the range of 5 and 7, underwent emergency surgery and were found to have acute appendicitis associated with various complications related to pathology, which also further supports the high sensitivity and specificity of the Alvarado scoring system. In contrast, the Positive predictive value was maximum up to a percentage of 91.30% among these subjects (Table 5). Thus, the Alvarado score showed a good correlation with the histopathological results, "higher the score, greater the incidence of histologically proven acute appendicitis". Moreover, applying Alvarado's clinical scoring among the patients presenting with clinical manifestations of acute appendicitis in the emergency setup prevents false-negative operations. Various diagnostic aids have been administered to increase the diagnostic accuracy of acute appendicitis, but the clinical diagnosis is still superior. In the present study, diagnostic tools like ultrasonography have been employed to predict and confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. However, patients exhibiting typical clinical presentations of acute appendicitis based on the Alvarado score do not need modern diagnostic tools like ultrasonography. In addition, the information given by ultrasonography did not improve the diagnostic accuracy in cases of negative or equivocal Alvarado Score.

Limitations of the study

Every hospital-based study has some limitations and the present study undertaken is no exception to this fact. The limitations of the present study are mentioned. Therefore, the results of the present study may not be representative of the whole of the country or the world at large. The number of patients included in the present study was less in comparison to other studies. Because the trial was short, it was difficult to remark on complications and mortality.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The above study concludes that the Alvarado score may be an excellent clinical diagnostic system for excluding acute appendicitis with a score below 4. Patients whose clinical scoring falls between 5 and 7 require critical observation and appropriate investigations like ultrasound and CT scan before the surgical intervention. The present study strongly recommends immediate appendectomy in all patients whose clinical score is more than 7.

Funding

No funding sources

Conflict of interest

None declared

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