TY - JOUR
T1 - The Alvarado score should be used to reduce emergency department length of stay and radiation exposure in select patients with abdominal pain
AU - Coleman, Jamie J.
AU - Carr, Bryan W.
AU - Rogers, Tyrone
AU - Field, Matthew S.
AU - Zarzaur, Ben L.
AU - Savage, Stephanie A.
AU - Hammer, Peter M.
AU - Brewer, Brian L.
AU - Feliciano, David V.
AU - Rozycki, Grace S.
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - BACKGROUND Abdominal pain is the common reason patients seek treatment in emergency departments (ED), and computed tomography (CT) is frequently used for diagnosis; however, length of stay (LOS) in the ED and risks of radiation remain a concern. The hypothesis of this study was the Alvarado score (AS) could be used to reduce CT scans and decrease ED LOS for patients with suspected acute appendicitis (AA). METHODS A retrospective review of patients who underwent CT to rule out AA from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2015, was performed. Patient demographics, medical history, ED documentation, operative interventions, complications, and LOS were all collected. Alvarado score was calculated from the medical record. Time to CT completion was calculated from times the patient was seen by ED staff, CT order, and CT report. RESULTS Four hundred ninety-Two patients (68.1% female; median age, 33 years) met the inclusion criteria. Most CT scans (70%) did not have findings consistent with AA. Median AS for AA on CT scan was 7, compared with 3 for negative CT (p < 0.001). One hundred percent of female patients with AS of 10 and males with AS of 9 or greater had AA confirmed by surgical pathology. Conversely, 5% or less of female patients with AS of 2 or less and 0% of male patients with AS of 1 or less were diagnosed with AA. One hundred six (21.5%) patients had an AS within these ranges and collectively spent 10,239 minutes in the ED from the time of the CT order until the radiologist's report. CONCLUSION Males with an AS of 9 or greater and females with AS of 10 should be considered for treatment of AA without imaging. Males with AS of 1 or less and females with AS of 2 or less can be safely discharged with follow-up. Using AS, a significant proportion of patients can avoid the radiation risk, the increased cost, and increased ED LOS associated with CT. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic IV, therapeutic IV.
AB - BACKGROUND Abdominal pain is the common reason patients seek treatment in emergency departments (ED), and computed tomography (CT) is frequently used for diagnosis; however, length of stay (LOS) in the ED and risks of radiation remain a concern. The hypothesis of this study was the Alvarado score (AS) could be used to reduce CT scans and decrease ED LOS for patients with suspected acute appendicitis (AA). METHODS A retrospective review of patients who underwent CT to rule out AA from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2015, was performed. Patient demographics, medical history, ED documentation, operative interventions, complications, and LOS were all collected. Alvarado score was calculated from the medical record. Time to CT completion was calculated from times the patient was seen by ED staff, CT order, and CT report. RESULTS Four hundred ninety-Two patients (68.1% female; median age, 33 years) met the inclusion criteria. Most CT scans (70%) did not have findings consistent with AA. Median AS for AA on CT scan was 7, compared with 3 for negative CT (p < 0.001). One hundred percent of female patients with AS of 10 and males with AS of 9 or greater had AA confirmed by surgical pathology. Conversely, 5% or less of female patients with AS of 2 or less and 0% of male patients with AS of 1 or less were diagnosed with AA. One hundred six (21.5%) patients had an AS within these ranges and collectively spent 10,239 minutes in the ED from the time of the CT order until the radiologist's report. CONCLUSION Males with an AS of 9 or greater and females with AS of 10 should be considered for treatment of AA without imaging. Males with AS of 1 or less and females with AS of 2 or less can be safely discharged with follow-up. Using AS, a significant proportion of patients can avoid the radiation risk, the increased cost, and increased ED LOS associated with CT. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic IV, therapeutic IV.
KW - Alvarado score
KW - Appendicitis
KW - diagnosis of appendicitis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047965837&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85047965837&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/TA.0000000000001885
DO - 10.1097/TA.0000000000001885
M3 - Article
C2 - 29521805
AN - SCOPUS:85047965837
SN - 2163-0755
VL - 84
SP - 946
EP - 950
JO - Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
JF - Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
IS - 6
ER -