title: Does peer-reviewed publication change the habits of surgeons?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  From April 1994 to December 1995 a prospective randomized trial was conducted at our institution comparing outcomes of laparoscopic and open appendectomy. It demonstrated no significant advantage to laparoscopic appendectomy. Our current study evaluates whether surgeon's habits at our hospital have been influenced by our previously published study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts were reviewed for patients who underwent appendectomy from August 1998 to December 1998. In addition, a formal survey was conducted of all staff surgeons to ascertain their procedure of choice for appendicitis, and the reasons for their preference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine percent of the appendectomies were attempted laparoscopically. The median operative time was longer for laparoscopic appendectomy, and median hospital charges were higher. Survey results showed that most staff surgeons prefer laparoscopic appendectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite our own published paper supporting open appendectomy over laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy has become the standard of care at our institution for the treatment of appendicitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ratzer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeren
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haun
mesh_terms: D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'