Accuracy of Per-rectal Examination for Diagnosis and Predicting Type of Appendix in Patients with Acute Appendicitis

Authors

  • Weerapat Suwanthanma Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Ronnarat Suvikapakornkul Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Panuwat Lertsithichai Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Siroj Kanjanapanjapol Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Chakrapan Euanorasetr Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Keywords:

Acute appendicitis, Per-rectal examination, Appendix type

Abstract

Introduction: Type of appendix is a well-recognized factor responsible for difficulty in appendectomy. Traditionally per-rectal examination should be performed in all patients with acute abdomen. Our goal of this study was to demonstrate the accuracy of per-rectal examination for diagnosis of acute appendicitis and to predict type of appendix by the result of per-rectal examination.

Material and Methods: We reviewed the relationship between positive per-rectal examination and all types of appendix in patients with acute appendicitis from January 2006 to October 2006 at our institution.

Results: There were 142 patients in the study including 68 males. The mean age at diagnosis was 32.8 years in male and 40.7 years in female. Per-rectal examination was performed in 113/142 (80%) patients. At operation, pelvic type was the most common type. Accuracy of per-rectal examination for diagnosis of acute appendicitis and predicting pelvic-type appendicitis are 52.3% and 48% respectively.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the accuracy of per-rectal examination as one of clinical diagnostic tools had low sensitivity and specificity and could not be used routinely as a predictor of type and diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

References

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Published

2008-12-29

How to Cite

1.
Suwanthanma W, Suvikapakornkul R, Lertsithichai P, Kanjanapanjapol S, Euanorasetr C. Accuracy of Per-rectal Examination for Diagnosis and Predicting Type of Appendix in Patients with Acute Appendicitis. Thai J Surg [Internet]. 2008 Dec. 29 [cited 2024 Dec. 23];29(4):133-6. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ThaiJSurg/article/view/241039

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 4 (2008): October - December

Section

Original Articles

License

Articles must be contributed solely to The Thai Journal of Surgery and when published become the property of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand. The Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand reserves copyright on all published materials and such materials may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission.