Role of Cecal Gurgling in Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the role of Cecal Gurgling (CG) as a clinical
sign to diagnose acute appendicitis.
Material and Methods: study was conducted at the allied teaching hospitals of FMH College
of Medicine and Dentistry Shadman Lahore, between June 2011 and May 2013. Two hundred
patients were included in the study between 13 and 50 years of age, presenting with pain right iliac
fossa, irrespective of gender. All the patients were grouped according to the Alvarado scoring
system into two groups. Group I with score more than 7 and Group II score less than, which was
further subdivided onto CG positive and CG negative.
Results: Mean age of the patients was 18.5 (13-50). Overall 104 (52%) patients were male and
96 (48%) female. In Group I, 78 (93.97%) were confirmed to have acute appendicitis on HP and 5
(6.02%) appendix were normal. In group II CG positive, 67 (95.7%) patients were confirmed to
have acute appendicitis on HP.
Conclusion: We concluded from this study that CG is a good diagnostic sign in patients with
borderline diagnosis and can be used in conjunction with ALVARADO score to increase its yield.
However, large randomized trial is required to strengthen this important clinical sign.