The Role of Digital Rectal Examination for Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Digital rectal examination (DRE) has been traditionally recommended to evaluate acute appendicitis, although several reports indicate its lack of utility for this diagnosis. No meta-analysis has examined DRE for diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Objectives

To assess the role of DRE for diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Data sources

Cochrane Library, PubMed, and SCOPUS from the earliest available date of indexing through November 23, 2014, with no language restrictions.

Study selection

Clinical studies assessing DRE as an index test for diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two independent reviewers extracted study data and assessed the quality, using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. Bivariate

SUBMITTER: Takada T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4557952 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature