Fast track pathway for perforated appendicitis.
BACKGROUND
Perforated appendicitis is associated with an increased morbidity and length of stay. "Fast track" protocols have demonstrated success in shortening hospitalization without increasing morbidity for a variety of surgical processes. This study evaluates a fast track pathway for perforated appendicitis.


METHODS
In 2013, a treatment pathway for perforated appendicitis was adopted by the Acute Care Surgery Service for patients having surgical management of perforated appendicitis. Interval appendectomy was excluded. Patients were treated initially with intravenous antibiotics and transitioned to oral antibiotics and dismissed when medically stable and tolerating oral intake. A retrospective review of patients managed on the fast track pathway was undertaken to analyze length of stay, morbidity, and readmissions.


RESULTS
Thirty-four males and twenty-one females with an average age of 46.8 years underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis between January 2013 and December 2014. Pre-existing comorbidities included hypertension 42%, diabetes mellitus 11%, COPD 5% and heart disease 2%. No patient had conversion to open appendectomy. Average length of stay was 2.67 days and ranged from 1 to 12 days (median 2 days). Postoperative morbidity was 20% and included abscess (6 patients), prolonged ileus (3 patients), pneumonia (1 patient), and congestive heart failure (1 patient). Five patients were readmitted for abscess (3 patients), congestive heart failure (1 patient), and pneumonia (1 patient).


CONCLUSIONS
A fast track pathway for perforated appendicitis produced shorter length of stay and acceptable postoperative morbidity and readmission. This offers the potential for significant cost savings over current national practice patterns.
Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Texas A & M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA. Electronic address: richard.frazee@bswhealth.org.
Richard
R
Frazee
Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Texas A & M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA.
Stephen
S
Abernathy
Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Texas A & M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA.
Matthew
M
Davis
Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Texas A & M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA.
Travis
T
Isbell
Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Texas A & M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA.
Justin
J
Regner
Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Texas A & M Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA.
Randall
R
Smith
D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas
Fast track pathway; Perforated appendicitis