Community Medicine Abstracts - College of Medicine and Health ...

Project No. 86 (1996)Diagnostic Value of White Blood Cells Count in Acute AppendicitisStudent Authors: Mouza Hassan Mohammed Obeid Al SuwaidiFaculty Supervisors: Prof. N. Norman, Dr. J. Brebner, Dr. A. BenerAbstract:Objective The determine the diagnostic value of an elevated white blood cell count(WBCC) in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.Design This is a retrospective descriptive study.Setting Medical records in Al Ain Hospital.Subjects The target population was all adult patients (over the age of 12) who wereadmitted to the surgical ward, Al Ain Hospital between 1st of january1995 to 31st ofJune 1995 with a provisional diagnosis of acute appendicitis.Results A total of 187 patients were admitted with a provisional diagnosis of acuteappendicitis. Surgery was performed in 109 cases (58.3%) with a negativeappendicitis rate of 4.6% (86 men and 23 women). 67 (72%) of patients have WBCCmore than 13.01 ´109/L. When the blood count is 4.00- 8.00´109/L it is 10%sensitive for appendicitis while it is 23% sensitive when the WBCC is 8.00-13.00´109/L and it is 67% sensitive when the WBCC is more than 13.00´109/L. 37(64.9%). Patients who presented with 12-24 hours duration of pain had WBCC morethan 13.00´109/L.Conclusion Although as the WBCC increases the sensitivity to acute appendicitisincreases, WBCC is not diagnostic of acute appendicitis because it has low specificityand it can be used to aid the diagnosis. The surgeon’s skills are still needed toestablish the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.