THE EFFICACY OF THE ALVARADO SCORE IN PEDIATRIC POPULATION OF MUREȘ REGION
Abstract:
Appendicitis diagnosis may be difficult in pediatric population, despite the developed imaging
techniques and laboratory tests. Considering this fact, many authors have attempted to develop
predictive scores for this pathology. One of the most popular is the Alvarado score, which uses both
physical examination and laboratory findings and was quoted by multiple studies as having a great
value of sensitivity and specificity. The aim of our study is to check the applicability of the Alvarado
score in our pediatric population. Our retrospective study comprised 133 patients aged between 2 and
18 years who had been presented with suspected appendicitis at the Department of Pediatric Surgery
and Orthopedics, Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Tîrgu-Mureş between 1st of April 2012 and
30th of July 2014. We found that in different age groups the cut off value and the accuracy of the
Alvarado score varied, which leads us to say that the Alvarado score can be of assistance in setting the
diagnosis of acute appendicitis, but it cannot be used as an exclusive standard, the final decision being
in the hand of the treating surgeon.
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