The diagnostic value of the clinical signs was statistically significant only in the case of leucocytosis (odds ratio, OR=3.8, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.8 - 8.2) and left deviation (OR=8.7, 95% CI: 3.5 - 22.6) in the intervention group.
For matching between the initial diagnosis made by surgeons and the final diagnosis in the intervention group, of the 31 cases initially diagnosed as apparent appendicitis, 61% were confirmed as appendicitis and 39% were classified as no appendicitis at final diagnosis. Of the 98 cases initially diagnosed as doubtful appendicitis, 44% were classified as appendicitis and 56% were classified as no appendicitis at final diagnosis. Of the 21 cases initially diagnosed as no appendicitis, 14% were classified as appendicitis and 86% were confirmed as no appendicitis at final diagnosis.
The sensitivity of ultrasound was 83%, the specificity was 97%, the positive predictive value was 95% and the negative predictive value was 88%. The corresponding values for CT were 82% (sensitivity), 95% (specificity), 93% (positive predictive value) and 87% (negative predictive value).
In the control group, 56 patients underwent ultrasound. There were 38 true positives, 6 true negatives, 4 false positives and 8 false negatives. Thus, the sensitivity of ultrasound was 83% in both study groups.
Two CT examinations were performed in the control group. The results showed one true positive and one true negative.
Among the patients with appendicitis, the number of complications was 7 (10%) in the intervention group and 38 (24%) in the control group. The rate of negative appendectomies was 9.6% (intervention) versus 12.2% (control). The average length of hospitalisation was 6.38 (+/- 9.7) days (intervention) versus 6.93 (+/- 7.4) days (control).
The differences presented above reached statistical significance.
In the control group, the rate of complications was 30.4% for those who underwent ultrasound and 17.7% for those who did not undergo ultrasound. The rate of negative appendectomies was 17.9% (ultrasound) versus 9.7% (no ultrasound). The average length of hospitalisation was 8.6 (+/- 9.3) days (ultrasound) versus 5.85 (+/- 5.8) days (no ultrasound).