Laura Meiler, DO, Sarah Mingucci, DO, Christian Massier, MD, Dwayne North, DO. South Pointe Hospital
Introduction: Emergent appendectomy is the standard of care in USA based on tradition rooted in theory that delaying surgery allows for progression of disease and poorer outcomes. Antibiotic treatment alone has been shown feasible in the treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis. In clinical practice surgical treatment can be delayed due to a multitude of medical and logistical reasons. This study evaluates the relation between timing of surgery to outcomes.
Methods and Procedures: 120 consecutive adult patients undergoing appendectomy in a teaching community hospital were risk stratified using the ACS Risk Calculator. Time from imaging to incision defined early and delayed groups. Statistical analysis was used to determine association between risk level, timing of surgery and outcomes.
Results: 79% of patients in this study were considered high risk. Average time to incision was 9.7 hours. Shorter time to incision was associated with a statistically significant lower length of stay (p< 0.05). For every 12 hours in surgery delay, one day was added to the length of stay. No statistical difference was found between time to incision and other outcome variables of clinical complications, conversion to open appendectomy or frequency of complicated appendicitis. Length of stay was longer than predicted by ACS risk calculator in both high and low risk groups.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 85973
Program Number: P754
Presentation Session: iPoster Session (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster