Aplicabilidad de la escala de Alvarado en la valoración de apendicitis en pacientes pediátricos. “Hospital Dr. Roberto Gilbert Elizalde” 2017 - 2018.

Abstract

Introduction: The Alvarado scale is the score most used as a diagnostic tool; although a consensus on its use in pediatric patients has not been reached. Objective: To assess the use of the Alvarado Scale for diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Methodology: Observational, descriptive, prospective study in pediatric patients of the Roberto Gilbert Elizalde Hospital during the period 2017-2018. Individuals with clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis, age between 5 to 17 years, symptoms of acute abdomen, sufficient data in clinical history and pathological examination. A clinical card with variables of the Alvarado scale, age, sex was applied. The data were stored in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using the SPSS version 22 statistical software, applying measures of frequency, percentage and Chi-square test. Results: the average age was 10 years, the male sex prevailing. The most frequent symptoms were pain in FID (89.9%), fever (89.3%) and nausea / vomiting (80.9%). 52.4% had values of 9-10 and 29.5% values of 7-8, according to the Alvarado scale with high sensitivity (86.0%) and specificity (100.0%). 95.0% presented a positive report of pathology, predominantly the phlegmonous class (49.6%) and necrohemorrhagic (34.7%). A significant dependency relationship was obtained between the pathology report and the Alvarado scale; while there was no relation to sex and age group. Conclusion: The Alvarado scale constitutes an adequate tool for its application in pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis.