The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response (AIR) score is a clinical calculator used in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. It is specifically applicable to patients presenting with acute abdominal pain suggestive of appendicitis. The AIR score uses clinical and laboratory parameters such as fever, nausea, migration of pain, rebound tenderness, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia to stratify patients into low, intermediate, and high risk of having appendicitis.
The clinical utility of the AIR score is to aid in the decision-making process for the management of suspected appendicitis. It can help to identify patients who may require immediate surgical intervention, those who may benefit from further diagnostic imaging, and those who can be safely discharged with close follow-up.
There are no specific exclusion criteria for the use of the AIR score. However, it may be less accurate in certain patient populations such as pregnant women, elderly patients, or those with atypical presentations of appendicitis. It should be used in conjunction with clinical judgment and not as a standalone diagnostic tool.
Reference
Manne Andersson, Roland E Andersson. The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score: A Tool for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis that Outperforms the Alvarado Score. World J Surg 2008 Aug;32(8):1843-9.
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