Document Detail


Is female sex associated with ED delays to diagnosis of appendicitis in the computed tomography era?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19683117     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Historically, females had delays to definitive diagnosis of appendicitis when compared to males. In this current millennium, appendicitis is now most commonly diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) in the emergency department (ED) rather than at surgery. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess if female gender is still associated with delays to diagnosis of appendicitis in the CT era. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients with appendicitis at a university teaching hospital ED was conducted. Inclusion criteria was age of more than 18 years and an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), diagnosis of appendicitis. Patients were excluded from analysis if they were pregnant, no CT scan was obtained in the ED, or had incomplete outcome data. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-seven patients met inclusion criteria; 65 female, 72 males. Time from triage to CT order was 138 minutes in females and 95 minutes in males (P = .0012). Time from initial physician evaluation to CT order was 45 minutes in females and 28 minutes in males (P = .0012). Nonclassic symptoms were more common in females and pelvic evaluation did not delay the CT order. CONCLUSION: Female gender is still associated with delays to CT acquisition and diagnosis of appendicitis.
Authors:
Sarah McGann Donlan; Mark B Mycyk
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of emergency medicine     Volume:  27     ISSN:  1532-8171     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Emerg Med     Publication Date:  2009 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-08-17     Completed Date:  2009-09-22     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8309942     Medline TA:  Am J Emerg Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  856-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60610, USA. sdonlan@md.northwestern.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Appendicitis / diagnosis*,  epidemiology,  radiography
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Humans
Male
Retrospective Studies
Sex Factors
Time Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / utilization*
Triage

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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