title: Negative appendicectomy rate as a quality metric in the management of appendicitis: impact of computed tomography, Alvarado score and the definition of negative appendicectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The negative appendicectomy rate (NAR) is a quality metric in the management of appendicitis. While computed tomography (CT) has been associated with a low NAR, Alvarado scoring produces an acceptable NAR. The definition of negative appendicectomy may affect the NAR. This  study examined the impact of CT, Alvarado score and definition on the NAR.
  
  
  METHODS
  The charts of 1,306 emergency appendicectomy patients from 1996 to 2010 were reviewed. Three five-year cohorts were created (Cohort A: 1996-2000, Cohort B: 2001-2005, Cohort C: 2006-2010)  and the NAR was calculated for each cohort using two definitions of negative appendicectomy: absence of inflammation (NAR-STD) and absence of intramural neutrophils (NAR-STR). NAR-STD was correlated to the CT rate for Cohorts B and C and also to Alvarado score for Cohort C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When  the definition of negative appendicectomy was changed, the NAR rose from 9.2% to 15.8% (p=0.0097) for Cohort A, from 2.8% to 8.6% (p=0.0180) for Cohort B (CT rate: 80.6%) and from 3.0% to 6.7% (p=0.0255) for Cohort C (CT rate: 92.4%). The introduction of CT lowered NAR-STD  from 1996-2000 (9.2%) to 2001-2010 (2.9%) but increasing the CT rate from 2001-2010 had no impact on the NAR. The positive predictive value for Alvarado score (98.60%) and CT (99.03%) were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The definition of a negative appendicectomy determines the  NAR. CT reduces the NAR regardless of definition but routine CT is unnecessary for male patients with positive Alvarado scores. Early/mild appendicitis may resolve without surgery and CT may contribute to unnecessary surgery. Alvarado scoring allows selective use of CT in suspected appendicitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Metropolitan Hospital, 1,901 First Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA. jmariadason@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mariadason
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Wallack
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belmonte
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult