EFFICACY OF MODIFIED ALVERADO SCORING SYSTEM IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS

A prospective study was undertaken in the surgical unit of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar to test the efficacy of modified Alvarado Scoring System in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The study lasted for six monthsy between May 2001 and Oct 2001. All those adult patients who were admitted with abdominal pain suggestive of acute appendicitis and were assigned a score according to modified Alvarado score were included in the study. Patients who were either not assigned a score or were under 12 years of age were not included in the study. Out of the 90 patients, the males were twice (n=60) as common as females (n~30). Age group most commonly affected was 21 to 30 yrs. The results revealed a positive predictive value of 88% in all and even more so in case of male patients. It is concluded that this scoring system is an effective tool in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adult especially male patients and is very helpful for the young doctor whose clinical judgment does not match that of a senior colleague.