title: Is pelvic ultrasound associated with an increased time to appendectomy in pediatric appendicitis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Appendicitis is a common pediatric condition requiring urgent surgical intervention to prevent complications. Pelvic ultrasound (US) as a diagnostic aid has become increasingly common. Despite its advantages, evidence suggests US can lead to delayed definitive management.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to test the hypothesis that US is associated with an increased time to appendectomy in children with acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chart review was conducted of all children aged 0-17 years who presented to the pediatric emergency department (ED) with a discharge diagnosis of appendicitis. The primary outcome variable was the interval between initial evaluation to appendectomy between patients who received an US and those who did not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 662 cases included, 424 patients (64%) underwent a pelvic US and 238 patients underwent an appendectomy without US. Median time interval from initial evaluation in the ED by a physician to appendectomy among patients who received an US was 9.7 h (interquartile range [IQR]: 6.8-15.0 h) compared with 5.5 h (IQR: 3.8-8.6 h) among patients who did not receive an US (Mann-Whitney, p < 0.001). The increased time to appendectomy in patients who received an US was dependent on the patient being female and presenting to the ED after hours (univariate analysis of variance test for interaction, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female pediatric patients and those presenting after hours that undergo an US have a significantly increased time to appendectomy compared with those who do not undergo diagnostic imaging.
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poonai
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Skylar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Osch
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Andrusiak
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mekhaiel
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Gurinder
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sangha
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seabrook
authors.affiliation: Western University, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joubert
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D039602:After-Hours Care; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: appendicitis; delay; pediatrics; ultrasound