Diagnostic Value of Lanwei Acupuncture Point for Acute Appendicitis

Background: Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdomen often hard to be diagnosed that leads to high incidence of negative laparotomy. Therefore, clinical methods for the diagnosis of appendicitis with high sensitivity are necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of Lanwei acupuncture point for acute appendicitis. Methods: 150 patients admitted to Alzahra and Kashani hospitals, Isfahan, Iran, with suspected appendicitis were entered the study. The patients were examined using the tests Mcburney and Lanwei and then, went to the operating room and the appendix was assessed by pathologist. Finally, the results of pathology were compared with the results of Mcburney and Lanwei tests using t, chi-square test and ANOVA tests. Findings: For Lanwei test, the sensitivity, specificity, false positive and false negative values were 22.6%, 23.5%, 77.4% and 76.5%, respectively, with the accuracy of 22.7%. But Mcburney test, the sensitivity, specificity, false positive and false negative values were 95.5%, zero, 100% and 4.5%, respectively, with the accuracy of 84.7%. Conclusion: The Lanwei test did not have high agreement with the results of pathology other clinical criteria of diagnosiing such as Mcburney test.