The Utility of Gas Under Diaphragm on Radiograph in Patients with
Perforated Appendix
Abstract
Background To evaluate the diagnostic utility of gas under the diaphragm
on abdominal radiograph for patients with a perforated appendix. Methods
A prospective, observational study at General Surgery Department, Jinnah
Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan was conducted between
2018 to 2020. All patients with suspected appendicitis, irrespective of
gender were included in the study. Patients with age younger than 12
years or older than 60 years were excluded from the study. Findings from
the imagings for each patient were noted. The plain radiograph was
looking for “Gas under diaphragm”. All imaging was performed by a
radiologist with experience of five years or more. All data were entered
into a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS version 24).
Results The appendix diameter was highly significantly associated with
the risk of perforation in patients with appendicitis
(p<0.001). Similarly, the patients with a perforated appendix
have a significantly higher white blood cell count compared to those
without perforation (15.6 ± 5.1 versus 13.2 ± 4.4; p-value = 0.002). It
was found that out of the 76 patients with perforated appendicitis
pneumoperitoneum was positive in 6 (7.8%) patients while out of those
with a non-perforated appendix, 8 (10.5%) had gas under the diaphragm.
Conclusion Gas under the diaphragm on a plain radiograph was detected in
only a few cases with perforated appendicitis. Nevertheless, if
positive, it warrants immediate abdominal surgery and requires
comprehensive investigation.