A Case Control Study to Determine the Effectiveness of Mean Platelet Volume (MPV) in Acute Appendicitis Diagnosis among Children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs22166916Abstract
Aim: To access the diagnostic value of the mean platelet volume in children with acute appendicitis.
Study design: A case control study
Place and duration: In the Surgical department of Bilawal Medical College for Boys LUMHS, Jamshoro and Sheikh Zayed Medical College/ Hospital Rahim Yar Khan for six-months duration from July 2021 to December 2021.
Methods: 150 total patients were selected with the WHO formula with SD 1.09, 80% power, 5% significance level with cases to control ratio of 1:1 and expected populace 7.55. The patients were selected with simple random technique of sampling (lottery method). The continuous variables of both groups were compared by means of the t-test. To determine the association of MPV with other variables; correlation test was applied.
Results: The study included 150 patients; 35 (46.7%) are men and 40 (53.3%) are women in the study group and 34 (45.3%) men and 41 (54.7%) women in the control group. 8.21 ± 3.51 (1-15 years) was the mean age of the patients in the study group and the mean age of the controls was 8.69 ± 3.51 (1-15 years). The specificity for raised neutrophil and WBC values was 91% and 89%, and the sensitivity was 77% and 84%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity to MPV reduction was 87% and 54%.
Conclusion: The increase in the leukocytes and neutrophils is significantly associated with acute appendicitis diagnosis. It is less costly and less time-consuming which cause more attention to MPV values during complete blood counts in the acute appendicitis diagnosis among pediatric patients. The low MPV levels are encountered in children with acute appendicitis.
Keywords: High white blood cell count, acute appendicitis, specificity, mean platelet volume (MPV).
