It is not what you do, it is the way that you do it: impact of a care pathway for appendicitis

Abstract Background/Purpose Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in children. However, management varies widely. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of introducing a care pathway on the management of childhood appendicitis. Methods Data were collected prospectively for 3 successive cohorts: Group A, before introduction of pathway; Group B, after introduction of pathway; Group C, after modification of pathway. All patients operated for suspected appendicitis were included. The pathway was modified after interim analysis of group B data. P Results Six hundred patients were included. When compared with group A, group C patients were more likely to receive preoperative antibiotics ( P P P = .025). There was a significant decrease in readmission rates from 10.0% to 4.2% ( P = .023) despite an increase in cases of gangrenous and perforated appendicitis ( P = .010). Conclusions The introduction of a care pathway resulted in improved compliance with antibiotic regimens, more frequent pain assessment, and fewer post-midnight operations. Postappendicectomy readmission rates were reduced despite an increase in disease severity. This was achieved by critical reevaluation of outcomes and pathway redesign where appropriate.