AIM: To re-evaluate the algorithm that has been used forover 40 years for diagnosis of acute abdominal pain amongchildren.METHODS: Among the 937 cases admitted to the surgicalemergency ward in 2000, 656 cases of acute...AIM: To re-evaluate the algorithm that has been used forover 40 years for diagnosis of acute abdominal pain amongchildren.METHODS: Among the 937 cases admitted to the surgicalemergency ward in 2000, 656 cases of acute appendicitiswere studied to evaluate the usefulness of the presentalgorithm for its colculated accuracy, false positive and falsenegative rates, the sensitivity and specificity in the instantdiagnosis of various types of acute appendicitis in differentage groups.The algorithm used was established in 1958and revisedror this study in 1999. It includes a 3-step analysisof clinical presentations, i.e.: firstly, a diagnosis of surgicalpain by definite organic abdominal signs; then a diagnosisof the subgroup of surgical condition by special signs; andfinally the diagnosis of the present disease by specific signs.A footnote describes a 'comparative technique″ of abdominalexamination in non-cooperative children.RESULTS: The general accuracy of diagnosis was 92.8 %,overall mortality 0.1% among 973 cases of abdominal painin 2000. 373 attending surgeons and 241 residents includingtrainees joined the diagnosis and treatment with noremarkable difference in the results. The incidence of acuteappendicitis, 656 in 973 cases, was 67.4 % representingthe majority of abdominal pain. In the series of 656 cases,the accuracy of diagnosis of acute appendidtis was 93.6 %,false positive 6.4 %, false negative 0.9 %, sensitivity at firstvisit 82.7 %, specificity for appendicitis 98.0 %, no death ordocumentary complication.CONCLUSION: The present algorithm used for diagnosisof acute abdominal pain is effective and preferable inreducing misdiagnosis and maltreatment at emergency. Theuse of some modern technology should be further explored.展开更多
文摘AIM: To re-evaluate the algorithm that has been used forover 40 years for diagnosis of acute abdominal pain amongchildren.METHODS: Among the 937 cases admitted to the surgicalemergency ward in 2000, 656 cases of acute appendicitiswere studied to evaluate the usefulness of the presentalgorithm for its colculated accuracy, false positive and falsenegative rates, the sensitivity and specificity in the instantdiagnosis of various types of acute appendicitis in differentage groups.The algorithm used was established in 1958and revisedror this study in 1999. It includes a 3-step analysisof clinical presentations, i.e.: firstly, a diagnosis of surgicalpain by definite organic abdominal signs; then a diagnosisof the subgroup of surgical condition by special signs; andfinally the diagnosis of the present disease by specific signs.A footnote describes a 'comparative technique″ of abdominalexamination in non-cooperative children.RESULTS: The general accuracy of diagnosis was 92.8 %,overall mortality 0.1% among 973 cases of abdominal painin 2000. 373 attending surgeons and 241 residents includingtrainees joined the diagnosis and treatment with noremarkable difference in the results. The incidence of acuteappendicitis, 656 in 973 cases, was 67.4 % representingthe majority of abdominal pain. In the series of 656 cases,the accuracy of diagnosis of acute appendidtis was 93.6 %,false positive 6.4 %, false negative 0.9 %, sensitivity at firstvisit 82.7 %, specificity for appendicitis 98.0 %, no death ordocumentary complication.CONCLUSION: The present algorithm used for diagnosisof acute abdominal pain is effective and preferable inreducing misdiagnosis and maltreatment at emergency. Theuse of some modern technology should be further explored.
