Clinical and Ultrasonographic Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Abstract

Appendicitis is one of the most common acute abdominal conditions encountered in the Emergency Department. It is a surgical condition that can affect any person of any age and often with varying clinical presentations. In the majority of cases, the diagnosis is straightforward. However in some, the diagnosis requires a heightened clinical suspicion. The application of adjuvant laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging helps to reduce the associated complications, morbidity and mortality of delayed diagnosis.

The Use of Ultrasonography to Assess Patients with Right Lower Quadrant Pain in the Emergency Department

“…21 The main pitfalls of graded compression technique included that it was operatordependent, and the visualisation of the appendix might be difficult in obese patient or in retrocaecal appendix. 22,23 Occasionally, false positive cases were encountered and some authors suggested that they might represent those mild cases which eventually resolved spontaneously. [23][24][25] A grading system was proposed by a Japanese group to document the severity of the appendicitis according to the appearance of the echogenic submucosal layer (Table 2).…”

“…22,23 Occasionally, false positive cases were encountered and some authors suggested that they might represent those mild cases which eventually resolved spontaneously. [23][24][25] A grading system was proposed by a Japanese group to document the severity of the appendicitis according to the appearance of the echogenic submucosal layer (Table 2). 26 Other adjuvant techniques including the use of posterior manual compression or the left lateraloblique decubitus position could further improve the detection of retrocaecal or retrocolic appendices.…”