A Standardized Diagnostic Pathway for Suspected Appendicitis in Children Reduces Unnecessary Imaging.

ABSTRACT: Ultrasound (US) for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is often nondiagnostic, and additional imaging is required. A standardized approach may reduce unnecessary imaging.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed all patients who had imaging for appendicitis in our emergency department in 2017 and evaluated patient characteristics associated with nondiagnostic US. Using these results, we developed a pediatric appendicitis score (PAS)-based imaging pathway and compared imaging trends prepathway and postpathway implementation.

Results

A total of 971 patients received imaging for suspected appendicitis prepathway in 2017. Female sex, obesity, and low/intermediate PAS were significantly associated with nondiagnostic US, but not magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (P < 0.0001). Nea

SUBMITTER: D'Cruz RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8970092 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar-Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature