Author/Authors :
Aminiahidashti، Hamed نويسنده Emergency Medicine Department, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran , , Hosseininejad، Seyed Mohammad نويسنده Department of Emergency Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran , , Montazer، Hosein نويسنده Department of Emergency Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran , , Bozorgi، Farzad نويسنده Department of Emergency Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran , , Goli Khatir، Iraj نويسنده Department of Emergency Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran , , Jahanian، Fateme نويسنده Department of Emergency Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran , , Raee، Behnaz نويسنده . Department Medical Faculty, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran ,
Abstract :
Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) as a monomicrobial infection of ascites fluid is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. This study was aimed to determine the diag-nostic accuracy of ascites fluid color in detection of SBP in cirrhotic cases referred to the emergency department. Methods: Cirrhotic patients referred to the ED for the paracentesis of ascites fluid were enrolled. For all studied pa-tients, the results of laboratory analysis and gross appearance of ascites fluid registered and reviewed by two emer-gency medicine specialists. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and positive and nega-tive likelihood ration of the ascites fluid gross appearance in detection of SBP were measured with 95% confidence interval. Results: The present project was performed in 80 cirrhotic patients with ascites (52.5 female). The mean of the subjects’ age was 56.25±12.21 years (35-81). Laboratory findings revealed SBP in 23 (29%) cases. Fifty nine (73%) cases had transparent ascites fluid appearance of whom 17 (29%) ones suffered from SBP. From 21 (26%) cases with opaque ascites appearance, 15 (71%) had SBP. The sensitivity and specificity of the ascites fluid appear-ance in detection of SBP were 46.88% (Cl: 30.87-63.55) and 87.50% (95% Cl: 75.3-94.14), respectively. Conclusion: It seems that the gross appearance of ascites fluid had poor diagnostic accuracy in detection of SBP and considering its low sensitivity, it could not be used as a good screening tool for this propose.
