Sensitivity, Specificity and Reliability of the RIPASA Score for Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Relation to the Alvarado Score.

INTRODUCTION: In order to avoid delay in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and reduce the margin of error, the use of scales has been used. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the Alvarado and RIPASA scores in the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis and to correlate with the histopathological results.

METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal, analytical, comparative and observational study. Patients with abdominal pain syndrome suggestive of acute appendicitis and submitted to surgical intervention were included; the Alvarado and RIPASA scores were simultaneously applied. The pathology report was obtained and the efficacy of both scores for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was compared.

RESULTS: One hundred patients were included. It was shown that the RIPASA score demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy compared to the Alvarado score, with sensitivity of 98,8% and specificity of 71,4% versus 90,7% and 64,3%, respectively. The RIPASA score showed an area under the curve of 0,88 and the Alvarado scale of 0,80.

CONCLUSIONS: The RIPASA score is a more specific, convenient and accurate system than the Alvarado score for the Mexican population.