Leucocyte counts in eighty-three cases of appendicitis : the limitations of leucocytosis as an indication for laparotomy / by Herbert French.

  • French, Herbert Stanley, 1875-1951.
Date:
1904
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Leucocyte counts in eighty-three cases of appendicitis : the limitations of leucocytosis as an indication for laparotomy / by Herbert French. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    To Conclude. The value of leucocytosis in relegating a given case of appendicitis to its proper group, and in deciding whether an operation should he performed or not, is apt to he overrated. Its value, judged from the present cases, is even less than that deduced hy other recent observers from the figures they have found. Many cases with 20,000 leucocytes have resolved spontaneously; many cases with 15,000 or less have had pus present. At the same time leucocyte counts have afforded valuable evidence in certain cases. In no case where the leu- cocytes have reached 35,000 has pus been absent. A rising leucocyte count is of more importance than is the absolute number. Above all, leucocytosis is to be re- garded as only one clinical sign amongst many. By itself it may mislead, but taken in conjunction with the pulse-rate, the temperature and the general condition of the patient, it is an additional sign which may be most valuable in the diagnosis of a difficult case. Literature. 1. Carmichael, E. S.—Leucocytosis in Abdomino-pelvic Disease. British Medical Journal, 1903, part ii, p. 1466. [Full paper before Edinburgh Obstetrical Society.] 2. Cazin and Gros.—Revue critique : De la leueocy- tose dans Fappendicite. La Semaine Medicale, 1903, pp. 141—145. 3. Coste, Dr.—Ueber das Verlialten der Leukocyten bei Appendicitis. Munchener medicinische Wochenschrift, 1902, pp. 2038—2042. 4. Cueschmann, Dr.—Leucocytosis in the Diagnosis of Appendicular Abscess. Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, December 26, 1901. 5. Da Costa, J. C.—The Clinical Value of Blood Ex- aminations in Appendicitis: a Study based on the examination of one hundred and eighteen cases at the