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E Freud

Publications and source records attributed to E Freud.

56 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute appendicitis in childhood in the Negev region: some epidemiological observations over an 11-year period (1973-1983).

In an attempt to explore the possible variation over time of acute appendicitis (AA) 406 medical files comprising all children aged 0-14 years operated on during an 11-year period (1973-1983) at the Soroka Medical Center were reviewed. Only patients that were histopathologically confirmed were included in the study. Soroka Medical Center is the only general hospital providing services to the entire population of the region. Hence, a reasonable coverage of all AA patients is expected. As a result, comparison of incidence rates among different subgroups is plausible. The annual rate of AA was 3.75 operations/10,000 children. The rates were somewhat higher for boys (5.20 versus 2.31, p less than 0.05). They were also higher for Jewish versus Bedouin children (4.44 versus 1.14, p less than 0.05). The highest rate of AA was among children in the 10- to 14-year-old age group (7.79). A gradual increase in the rates of AA during the study period was noticed, over and above the increase in the region's population. However, the ratio of change over time was higher for the Bedouins. Although this cannot be proven, the causes of AA have been hypothesized to be multifactorial. Diet is considered to have an important role in the etiology of AA. Some seasonal trends could be observed, paralleling changes in humidity, viral and bacterial infections, suggesting the involvement of these factors in the etiology of AA.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of imaging in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children.

The aim of the study was to investigate the place of imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis. The files of 2,427 children with suspected acute appendicitis were reviewed for clinical management and operative findings. The sample was divided into 3 groups at time of admission: (1) before diagnostic imaging was available in our department (1991-1994); (2) after the introduction of imaging studies on a random basis in equivocal cases (1995-1998); and (3) after a policy was formulated for ultrasound use in all equivocal cases followed by computed tomography if necessary (1999-2000). Results showed that the rate of misdiagnosis decreased from 13.2% in group 1 to 6.5% in group 2 and 6.1% in group 3. False-positive findings (normal appendix with positive scan) were noted in 16.7% of group 2 and 25% of group 3; false-negative findings (appendicitis at surgery with negative scan) in 23.8% and 9.5%, respectively. Computed tomography was performed in 8 children and prevented unnecessary surgery in 4 of them. We conclude that in equivocal cases of acute appendicitis, imaging studies performed by skilled operators can improve the accuracy of diagnosis, saving patients unnecessary surgery, and identifying other conditions that mimic appendicitis.

Abdomen, Acute↗