CT scans and acute appendicitis: a five-year analysis from a rural teaching hospital.
BACKGROUND
Studies examining the relationship between computed tomography (CT) scans and appendiceal perforation have largely been conducted in urban centers. The present study sought to evaluate this relationship in a rural hospital.


METHODS
This is a retrospective analysis of 445 patients who underwent appendectomies from January 2000 to June 2005 at a rural teaching hospital.


RESULTS
Four hundred forty-five patients were analyzed in two groups; those who underwent CT scans (N = 245) and those who did not (N = 200). Patients undergoing CT scans were significantly older (median age 38 vs. 22 years, P < 0.0001), were more likely to have perforated appendicitis (P 0.001), were less likely to undergo a negative appendectomy (P = 0.003), and had a significantly longer length of stay than those who did not (P 0.009). Analysis by gender showed that perforation rates continued to be significantly higher in males undergoing CT scans (P 0.004). To examine the possibility that sicker patients were more likely to receive CT scans and also be found to have perforated appendicitis, a sensitivity analysis was performed. Patients showing perforated appendicitis on initial CT scans were excluded and the analysis was repeated. The difference in perforation rates continued to remain significant (P 0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
Males undergoing CT scans are significantly more likely to have perforated appendicitis. A protocol-driven rational approach to CT evaluation of suspected appendicitis may lower perforation rates, especially in males.
Augustin
Toms
T
Department of General Surgery Residency, Robert Packer Hospital, One Guthrie Square, Sayre, PA 18840, USA. augustin_toms@guthrie.org
Bhende
Siddharth
S
Chavda
Keyur
K
VanderMeer
Thomas
T
Cagir
Burt
B
D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011336:Probability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome