Regional results of acute appendicitis care

JAMA. 1981 Sep 18;246(12):1318-20.

Abstract

In 1978, acute appendicitis care was reviewed by studying 2,375 cases from 74% of all hospitals in Wisconsin outside the greater Milwaukee area. The mortality was 0.17% and the wound complication rate was 5.3%. A normal appendix report was noted in 14% of all cases; female patients accounted for 60% of these cases, and only 44.5% of the total study population. The rupture or perforation rate was 13.4%; 62% of these problems occurred in male patients. The mean hospital stay was 5.4 days; for perforated cases, it was 10.2 days. An analysis that compared hospitals by their individual ratios of normal appendices to perforations favors the conclusion that a small but real decrease in negative appendectomy rates could be achieved without producing more ruptures or perforations.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Appendectomy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Appendicitis / epidemiology
  • Appendicitis / mortality
  • Appendicitis / surgery*
  • Appendix / injuries
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Perforation / epidemiology
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Professional Review Organizations*
  • Utilization Review
  • Wisconsin