many years ago, the positive appendix rate for appendicectomies in
pediatrics in a USA hospital where I did a pediatric residency was 100%.
So was the rate of peritonitis..
At that time, if I remember correctly, the ideal rate was somewhere
around 60% pathology confirmed appendicitis - more than that and the
rate of perforation and peritonitis was not acceptable.
Is there an ideal rate now?
Mary
>a recent New England Journal Editorial says that nearly 47% of the
>appendices removed at surgery is not inflammed in USA..... that is hard to
>beleive (may be the particular surgical unit has problems in diagnosing
>appendicitis? - but will they allow a person from this unit to write a
>editorial to NEJM? :-).
>also ultrasound and CAT can bring down this error to a great extend.
>but how cost effective is it? the health economists have not had their say.
>has anyone in UK have similar figures?
>
>i think the GPs do not fair that badly? is it?
>
>kumara
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>"We are treating our Planet Earth as if we have a spare one lying in the
>boot of our car." Greenpeace
>
>Dr.Kumara Mendis M.B.B.S., D.F.M.
>Department of Community and Family Medicine and
>Computer Centre, University of Kelaniya
>
Mary Hawking Kingsbury Court Surgery Church Street Dunstable LU5 4RS
tel:01582 663218 (surgery)fax:01582 476488 (surgery)
Member of British Healthcare Internet Association
Dunstable and Houghton Regis Locality Commisssioning Pilot
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