In this prospective study, the modified Alvarado score had a sensitivity of only 72%.
Appendectomy is the most common emergency surgery, and computed tomography scans are frequently performed to rule out appendicitis. A clinical decision rule sensitive for appendicitis could reduce radiation exposure and make care more efficient. In a prospective observational study, researchers determined the accuracy of the modified Alvarado score for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The score assigns one point each for pain migration to the right lower quadrant, anorexia, nausea, rebound tenderness, and fever and two points each for right lower quadrant tenderness and leukocytosis.
Researchers applied the score to 261 patients evaluated for appendicitis at two tertiary care emergency departments. Of these patients, 53 ultimately had a …
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education
Grant/Research SupportAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality; CDC; NIH–National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NIH–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); NIH–NIAID–Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group; Merck; Pfizer; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Shire; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis; bioMérieux; Siemens; Rapid Pathogen Screening; Magnolia; Stago; Innovative Biosensors; Molecular Detection, Inc.; Dyax Corp.; Trius Pharmaceuticals
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardPortola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Speaker’s BureauPeerView Institute for Medical Education
Grant/Research SupportAgency for Healthcare Research and Quality; CDC; NIH–National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; NIH–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID); NIH–NIAID–Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group; Merck; Pfizer; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Shire; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis; bioMérieux; Siemens; Rapid Pathogen Screening; Magnolia; Stago; Innovative Biosensors; Molecular Detection, Inc.; Dyax Corp.; Trius Pharmaceuticals