The objective of this paper is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of pain on travelling over speed bumps for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Presence of pain while traveling over speed bumps was associated with an increased likelihood of acute appendicitis. As a diagnostic variable, it compared favorably with other features commonly used in clinical assessment. Asking about speed bumps may contribute to clinical assessment and could be useful in telephone assessment of patients. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are the key factors in successful outcomes in acute appendicitis. Delayed surgical intervention risks appendiceal perforation, which can lead to peritonitis, sepsis, and even death. Unfortunately, as many as 20% of appendectomies reveal a normal appendix, a negative rate associated with considerable morbidity and cost, the authors noted. Design Prospective questionnaire based diagnostic accuracy study. Setting surgical department of AL Karama teaching hospital /IRAQ – AL Kut city. Participants 104 patients aged 16-65 years referred to surgical team for assessment of possible appendicitis. Main outcome measures Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for pain over speed bumps in diagnosing appendicitis, with histological diagnosis of appendicitis as the reference standard.
Keywords: Acute appendictis, Diagnostic, Pain, Speed bumps, Travelling
