[Effect of ultrasonic diagnosis and incidence of appendectomy and laparoscopy]

A total of 330 of 409 patients with suspected acute appendicitis were examined by ultrasound, and an appendectomy was performed in 146 patients. The negative appendectomy rate was 7% with preoperative ultrasound (n = 72) compared with 31% without (n = 74). Laparoscopy did not reduce the negative appendectomy rate, but was useful in patients with opposing clinical and sonographical findings.