Diagnostic Value of Basic Laboratory Parameters in the Diagnosis of Complicated Appendicitis

Abstract

In this investigation, we sought to examine the efficacy of laboratory parameters in predicting complicated appendicitis in patients who had surgery for acute appendicitis. 153 patients who underwent appendectomy were included and whose pathological results showed acute appendicitis. The patients were divided into two groups based on pathology findings and surgical findings: simple and complicated appendicitis groups. The patients’ age, gender, preoperative leukocyte count, neutrophil count, neutrophil percentage, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, erythrocyte distribution width, mean platelet volume, and C-reactive protein levels were recorded. The simple and complicated appendicitis groups comprised 97 and 56 patients, respectively. Patients with complicated appendicitis were older on average than those with simple appendicitis (p=0.007). In the complicated appendicitis group, leukocyte count (p<0.001), neutrophil count (p=0.007), neutrophil percentage (p<0.001), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (p<0.001), and C-reactive protein levels (p<0.001) were significantly higher than in the simple appendicitis group. In terms of erythrocyte distribution width and mean platelet volume, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. The cut-off values for age, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, neutrophil percentage, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein levels were 24.5/years, 12.500/µL, 9.950/µL, 78.15%, 4.98, and 0.29 mg/dL, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR: 1.036), neutrophil count (OR: 14.934), and C-reactive protein levels (OR: 4.225) are independent risk factors for the diagnosis of complicated appendicitis. Thus, age, neutrophil count, and C-reactive protein levels may be used as auxiliary parameters to differentiate between simple and complicated appendicitis.