The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Emergency General Surgery Anatomic Severity Scoring System as a predictor of cost in appendicitis

What you need to know: Current management of acute appendicitis in adults

ABSTRACT

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common acute surgical diseases in the world today. Acute appendicitis can present with a well-recognized clinical presentation with abdominal pain which localize in the right lower quadrant. This presentation is more typical in men than in women of child baring age. Several clinical and laboratory calculations can be used to increase the likelihood of making a correct diagnosis. Various imaging modalities can be used to make the diagnosis which include ultrasound, computer tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Each study has well known sensitivity/specificity of positive predictive value of making the diagnosis of appendicitis. The management of acute appendicitis is based on the presentation of the patient and dividing it into uncomplicated and complicated disease. Each requires management with antibiotics and followed with timely appendectomy. Recent studies have demonstrated nonoperative management of uncomplicated appendicitis without no fecalith that can be managed with antibiotics alone. Complicated acute appendicitis should undergo timely surgical intervention. Patients presenting with a large appendiceal abscess or phlegmon should undergo percutaneous drainage and antibiotic management. There are certain patient populations that should be considered for surgical intervention. Pregnant patients as well as immunosuppressed patients should undergo timely surgical intervention to decrease the risk of complications. This review outlines the current principles of the diagnosis, imaging, and treatment of acute appendicitis based on the best available evidence of acute appendicitis in adults.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Original Review Article, Level III.

Utility of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Appendicitis Severity Grade in Predicting Prognosis in Children

INTRODUCTION

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) proposed a grade classification (I (mild) to V (severe)) to predict the risks and outcomes of acute appendicitis. However, its utility in children remains unknown. We investigated the relationship between the AAST grade and disease severity in children.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 93 patients aged ≤16 years who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis between 2012 and 2020. The AAST computed tomography (CT), operative, and pathologic grades were analyzed. We collected data for demographics, length of stay (LOS), and complications. Trend tests were performed to compare the AAST grade and outcomes. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate the correlation between grades. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors related to LOS.

RESULTS

AAST grades included CT (n=55), operative (n=93), and pathologic (n=93) grades. The number of complications and LOS increased significantly with the increase of every three-grade. Bland-Altman plots revealed that each of the three-grade correlated with each other. Multiple regression analysis identified AAST operative grades III-V as risk factors for prolonged LOS.

CONCLUSION

Higher CT, operative, and pathologic grades were found to be significantly associated with an increased number of complications and prolonged LOS in pediatric patients. We further concluded that the AAST grading system could be useful in predicting the prognosis of acute appendicitis in children.

Impact of preoperative factors and waiting time on post-appendectomy complications: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Several factors are associated with increased postoperative complications after appendectomies. However, few studies combined these potential factors for comprehensive prediction of surgical outcomes. Whether high-risk patients benefit from a shorter waiting time for surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the impact of surgical waiting time and potential risk factors on postoperative complications.

METHODS

A total of 1343 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis requiring an emergent appendectomy were included from 2013 to 2018. The preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative complications were selected and the probability of postoperative complications was calculated by multivariate logistic regression model. Patients were divided into four groups based on the risk (high & low) and time to surgery (> 12 & ≤12 hours). The odds ratios for complications were evaluated between groups.

RESULTS

The selected risk factors included age, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and abdominal pain duration. Compared with low-risk patients with time to surgery ≤12 hours, high-risk patients with time to surgery > 12 hours had significant increased overall postoperative complication rate (16.85% vs. 8.16%, p = 0.002) and a trend toward increased surgical site infection rate (10.99% vs. 6.46%, p = 0.058). When operated within 12 hours, there was no difference in outcomes between high- and low-risk patients. On the other hand, time to surgery > 12 hours did not increase complication rate in low-risk patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The surgical outcome may be affected by preoperative factors and time to surgery. It is suggested that high-risk patients receive appendectomy within 12 hours to avoid increased postoperative complications.

Techniques for mesoappendix transection and appendix resection: insights from the ESTES SnapAppy study

INTRODUCTION

Surgically managed appendicitis exhibits great heterogeneity in techniques for mesoappendix transection and appendix amputation from its base. It is unclear whether a particular surgical technique provides outcome benefit or reduces complications.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We undertook a pre-specified subgroup analysis of all patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy at index admission during SnapAppy (ClinicalTrials.gov Registration: NCT04365491). We collected routine, anonymized observational data regarding surgical technique, patient demographics and indices of disease severity, without change to clinical care pathway or usual surgeon preference. Outcome measures of interest were the incidence of complications, unplanned reoperation, readmission, admission to the ICU, death, hospital length of stay, and procedure duration. We used Poisson regression models with robust standard errors to calculate incident rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Three-thousand seven hundred sixty-eight consecutive adult patients, included from 71 centers in 14 countries, were followed up from date of admission for 90 days. The mesoappendix was divided hemostatically using electrocautery in 1564(69.4%) and an energy device in 688(30.5%). The appendix was amputated by division of its base between looped ligatures in 1379(37.0%), with a stapler in 1421(38.1%) and between clips in 929(24.9%). The technique for securely dividing the appendix at its base in acutely inflamed (AAST Grade 1) appendicitis was equally divided between division between looped ligatures, clips and stapled transection. However, the technique used differed in complicated appendicitis (AAST Grade 2 +) compared with uncomplicated (Grade 1), with a shift toward transection of the appendix base by stapler (58% vs. 38%; p < 0.001). While no statistical difference in outcomes could be detected between different techniques for division of appendix base, decreased risk of any [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 0.58 (0.41-0.82), p = 0.002] and severe [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 0.33 (0.11-0.96), p = 0.045] complications could be detected when using energy devices.

CONCLUSIONS

Safe mesoappendix transection and appendix resection are accomplished using heterogeneous techniques. Technique selection for both mesoappendix transection and appendix resection correlates with AAST grade. Higher grade led to more ultrasonic tissue transection and stapled appendix resection. Higher AAST appendicitis grade also correlated with infection-related complication occurrence. Despite the overall well-tolerated heterogeneity of approaches to acute appendicitis, increasing disease acuity or complexity appears to encourage homogeneity of intraoperative surgical technique toward advanced adjuncts.

Emergency Surgery in a Large Urban Area Community Hospital During SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An Analysis on Acute Appendicitis

Background:

The literature highlights a decrease in surgical treated appendicitis with an increased severity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of COVID lockdown on the population with appendicitis comparing clinical-pathologic data and outcome in two matching period (prepandemic and pandemic era).

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of patients admitted to two community urban hospital in Rome with diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic was performed. We compared patients patients with acute appendicitis in three groups named A (pre-COVID), B (early pandemic), and C (late pandemic). We evaluate the differences between the three groups in terms of onset of symptoms and severity, procedure difficulty, conversion rate, and short-term outcome.

Results:

A total of 310 patients were identified. The time interval from onset of symptoms to arrival in the emergency department was significantly longer in both pandemic group; there was also a significantly longer time to surgery comparing to group A. The risk of complicated AA was higher in both pandemic groups. A significantly higher grade of difficulty was detected in both COVID-groups. However, no differences were observed in conversion rate. Postoperative complications rate showed no significant difference among all three groups. No patients was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 postoperatively.

Conclusion:

AA treatment was comparable to pre-COVID period in-hospital presurgery stay and early postoperative outcome. With an accurate respect of pandemic protocol is possible to maintain a high and safe standard of care for patients with acute appendicitis.

Caveat emptor: The accuracy of claims data in appendicitis research

BACKGROUND

International Classification of Disease, ninth/tenth revision codes are used to identify patients with appendicitis and classify severity of disease for research and hospital reimbursement. We sought to determine accuracy of International Classification of Disease, ninth/tenth revision codes in classifying appendicitis as uncomplicated versus complicated (defined as perforated, necrotic, or abscess) compared with the clinical gold standard: surgeon characterization of the appendix in the operative report.

METHODS

Retrospective review of operative reports and discharge International Classification of Disease, ninth/tenth revision codes for patients ≥18 years old who underwent noninterval, nonincidental appendectomy between January 2012 and December 2019 at a tertiary referral center. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were calculated for International Classification of Disease, ninth/tenth revision codes to classify appendicitis accurately as complicated compared with surgeon description. ICD-9/10 codes and surgeon description were categorized into complicated/uncomplicated based on the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading system.

RESULTS

In the study, 1,495 patients with acute appendicitis underwent appendectomy. Per surgeon description, 200 (13%) were complicated and 1,295 (87%) uncomplicated. Compared with surgeon description, discharge International Classification of Disease, ninth/tenth revision codes did not accurately identify complicated appendicitis: sensitivity = 0.68, positive predictive value = 0.77. As a sensitivity analysis, the cohort was stratified by public versus private payers, and the results did not change.

CONCLUSION

International Classification of Disease, ninth/tenth revision codes do not accurately identify surgeon-described complicated appendicitis. Nearly one-third of the cases of complicated appendicitis were coded as uncomplicated. Such misclassification negatively impacts reimbursement for complicated appendicitis care and could lead to misleading results in research and quality improvement activities that rely on these codes.

Appendectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: a multicenter ambispective cohort study by the Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery and new technologies (the CRAC study)

Major surgical societies advised using non-operative management of appendicitis and suggested against laparoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hypothesis is that a significant reduction in the number of emergent appendectomies was observed during the pandemic, restricted to complex cases. The study aimed to analyse emergent surgical appendectomies during pandemic on a national basis and compare it to the same period of the previous year. This is a multicentre, retrospective, observational study investigating the outcomes of patients undergoing emergent appendectomy in March-April 2019 vs March-April 2020. The primary outcome was the number of appendectomies performed, classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) score. Secondary outcomes were the type of surgical technique employed (laparoscopic vs open) and the complication rates. One thousand five hundred forty one patients with acute appendicitis underwent surgery during the two study periods. 1337 (86.8%) patients met the inclusion criteria: 546 (40.8%) patients underwent surgery for acute appendicitis in 2020 and 791 (59.2%) in 2019. According to AAST, patients with complicated appendicitis operated in 2019 were 30.3% vs 39.9% in 2020 (p = 0.001). We observed an increase in the number of post-operative complications in 2020 (15.9%) compared to 2019 (9.6%) (p < 0.001). The following determinants increased the likelihood of complication occurrence: undergoing surgery during 2020 (+ 67%), the increase of a unit in the AAST score (+ 26%), surgery performed > 24 h after admission (+ 58%), open surgery (+ 112%) and conversion to open surgery (+ 166%). In Italian hospitals, in March and April 2020, the number of appendectomies has drastically dropped. During the first pandemic wave, patients undergoing surgery were more frequently affected by more severe appendicitis than the previous year's timeframe and experienced a higher number of complications. Trial registration number and date: Research Registry ID 5789, May 7th, 2020.

Small bowel obstruction managed without hospital admission: A safe way to reduce both cost and time in the hospital?

BACKGROUND

Small bowel obstruction management has evolved to incorporate the Gastrografin challenge. We expanded its use to the emergency department observation unit, potentially avoiding hospital admission for highly select small bowel obstruction patients. We hypothesized that the emergency department observation unit small bowel obstruction protocol would reduce admissions, costs, and the total time spent in the hospital without compromising outcomes.

METHODS

We reviewed patients who presented with small bowel obstruction from January 2015 to December 2018. Patients deemed to require urgent surgical intervention were admitted directly and excluded. The emergency department observation unit small bowel obstruction guidelines were introduced in November 2016. Patients were divided into pre and postintervention groups based on this date. The postintervention group was further subclassified to examine the emergency department observation unit patients. Cost analysis for each patient was performed looking at number of charges, direct costs, indirect cost, and total costs during their admission.

RESULTS

In total, 125 patients were included (mean age 69 ± 14.3 years). The preintervention group (n = 62) and postintervention group (n = 63) had no significant difference in demographics. The postintervention group had a 51% (36.7 hours, P < .001) reduction in median duration of stay and a total cost reduction of 49% (P < .001). The emergency department observation unit subgroup (n = 46) median length of stay was 23.6 hours. The readmission rate was 16% preintervention compared to 8% in the postintervention group (P = .18).

CONCLUSION

Management of highly selected small bowel obstruction patients with the emergency department observation unit small bowel obstruction protocol was associated with decreased length of stay and total cost, without an increase in complications, surgical intervention, or readmissions.

Pain management after laparoscopic appendectomy: Comparative effectiveness of innovative pre-emptive analgesia using liposomal bupivacaine

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic appendectomy is standard of care for appendicitis in the US. Pain control that limits opioids is an important area of research given the opioid epidemic. This study examined post-appendectomy inpatient opioid use and pain scores following intraoperative use of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) versus non-liposomal bupivacaine.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of 155 adults who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Patients were divided into four cohorts based on the analgesia administered: (i) bupivacaine hydrochloride (BH)± epinephrine; (ii) undiluted LB; (iii) LB diluted with normal saline; and (iv) LB diluted with BH.

RESULTS

Baseline demographic/clinical attributes, intra-operative findings, and post-operative pain scores were equivalent across cohorts. Post-operative pre-discharge opioid use was higher in the BH vs. LB cohorts (mean 60.4 vs. 46.0, 35.5, and 30.4 morphine milligram equivalents, respectively; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-emptive analgesia with LB during laparoscopic appendectomy can reduce inpatient opioid use without significantly increasing post-operative pain scores.

Evaluating the association between American Association for the Surgery of Trauma emergency general surgery anatomic severity grades and clinical outcomes using national claims data

BACKGROUND

Emergency general surgery (EGS) encompasses a heterogeneous population of acutely ill patients, and standardized methods for determining disease severity are essential for comparative effectiveness research and quality improvement initiatives. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) has developed a grading system for the anatomic severity of 16 EGS conditions; however, little is known regarding how well these AAST EGS grades can be approximated by diagnosis codes in administrative databases.

METHODS

We identified adults admitted for 16 common EGS conditions in the 2012 to 2017q3 National Inpatient Sample. Disease severity strata were assigned using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) diagnosis codes based on AAST EGS anatomic severity grades. We evaluated whether assigned EGS severity (multiple strata or dichotomized into less versus more complex) were associated with in-hospital mortality, complications, length of stay, discharge disposition, and costs. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, hospital traits, geography, and year.

RESULTS

We identified 10,886,822 EGS admissions. The number of anatomic severity strata derived from ICD-9/10-CM codes varied by EGS condition and by year. Four conditions mapped to four strata across all years. Two conditions mapped to four strata with ICD-9-CM codes but only two or three strata with ICD-10-CM codes. Others mapped to three or fewer strata. When dichotomized into less versus more complex disease, patients with more complex disease had worse outcomes across all 16 conditions. The addition of multiple strata beyond a binary measure of complex disease, however, showed inconsistent results.

CONCLUSION

Classification of common EGS conditions according to anatomic severity is feasible with International Classification of Diseases codes. No condition mapped to five distinct severity grades, and the relationship between increasing grade and outcomes was not consistent across conditions. However, a standardized measure of severity, even if just dichotomized into less versus more complex, can inform ongoing efforts aimed at optimizing outcomes for EGS patients across the nation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic, level III.

Validation of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading system for acute appendicitis severity

OBJECTIVE

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) developed an anatomic grading system to assess disease severity through increasing grades of inflammation. Severity grading can then be utilized in risk-adjustment and stratification of patient outcomes for clinical benchmarking. We sought to validate the AAST appendicitis grading system by examining the ability of AAST grade to predict clinical outcomes used for clinical benchmarking.

METHODS

Surgical quality program data were prospectively collected on all adult patients undergoing appendectomy for acute appendicitis at our institution between December 2013 and May 2018. The AAST acute appendicitis grade from 1 to 5 was assigned for all patients undergoing open or laparoscopic appendectomy. Primary outcomes were occurrence of major complications, any complications, and index hospitalization length of stay. Multivariable models were constructed for each outcome without and with inclusion of the AAST grade as an ordinal variable. We also developed models using International Classification of Diseases, 9th or 10th Rev.-Clinical Modification codes to determine presence of perforation for comparison.

RESULTS

A total of 734 patients underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis. The AAST score distribution included 561 (76%) in grade 1, 49 (6.7%) in grade 2, 79 (10.8%) in grade 3, 33 (4.5%) in grade 4, and 12 (1.6%) in grade 5. The mean age was 35.3 ± 14.7 years, 47% were female, 20% were nonwhite, and 69% had private insurance. Major complications, any complications, and hospital length of stay were all positively associated with AAST grade (p < 0.05). Risk-adjustment model fit improved after including AAST grade in the major complications, any complications, and length of stay multivariable regression models. The AAST grade was a better predictor than perforation status derived from diagnosis codes for all primary outcomes studied.

CONCLUSION

Increasing AAST grade is associated with higher complication rates and longer length of stay in patients with acute appendicitis. The AAST grade can be prospectively collected and improves risk-adjusted modeling of appendicitis outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prospective/Epidemiologic, Level III.

Diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis: 2020 update of the WSES Jerusalem guidelines

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Acute appendicitis (AA) is among the most common causes of acute abdominal pain. Diagnosis of AA is still challenging and some controversies on its management are still present among different settings and practice patterns worldwide. In July 2015, the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) organized in Jerusalem the first consensus conference on the diagnosis and treatment of AA in adult patients with the intention of producing evidence-based guidelines. An updated consensus conference took place in Nijemegen in June 2019 and the guidelines have now been updated in order to provide evidence-based statements and recommendations in keeping with varying clinical practice: use of clinical scores and imaging in diagnosing AA, indications and timing for surgery, use of non-operative management and antibiotics, laparoscopy and surgical techniques, intra-operative scoring, and peri-operative antibiotic therapy.

METHODS

This executive manuscript summarizes the WSES guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of AA. Literature search has been updated up to 2019 and statements and recommendations have been developed according to the GRADE methodology. The statements were voted, eventually modified, and finally approved by the participants to the consensus conference and by the board of co-authors, using a Delphi methodology for voting whenever there was controversy on a statement or a recommendation. Several tables highlighting the research topics and questions, search syntaxes, and the statements and the WSES evidence-based recommendations are provided. Finally, two different practical clinical algorithms are provided in the form of a flow chart for both adults and pediatric (< 16 years old) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2020 WSES guidelines on AA aim to provide updated evidence-based statements and recommendations on each of the following topics: (1) diagnosis, (2) non-operative management for uncomplicated AA, (3) timing of appendectomy and in-hospital delay, (4) surgical treatment, (5) intra-operative grading of AA, (6) ,management of perforated AA with phlegmon or abscess, and (7) peri-operative antibiotic therapy.

Reduced Opioid Prescription Practices and Duration of Stay after TAP Block for Laparoscopic Appendectomy

BACKGROUND

We evaluated whether TAP blocks performed at the time of appendectomy resulted in reduced total oral morphine equivalent (OME) prescribed and fewer 30-day opioid prescription (OP) refills.

STUDY DESIGN

Single institution review of historical data (2010-2016) was performed. Adults (≥ 18 years) that underwent appendectomy for appendicitis with uniform disease severity (AAST EGS grades I, II) were included. Opioid tolerance was defined as any preoperative OP ordered 1-3 months prior to appendectomy or < 1 month unrelated to appendicitis; opioid naïve patients were without OP. Intraoperative TAP blocks (admixture of liposomal/regular bupivacaine) were performed at surgeon discretion. Risk factors for discharge prescription > 200 OME were assessed using logistic regression and quantified using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULT

There were 960 patients with uniform appendicitis severity. During appendectomy, 145 (15%) patients received TAP blocks. There were 46 patients that were opioid tolerant (5%) and the majority of the cohort received discharge OP (n = 914, 95%) with a median prescription OME volume of 225 [150-300]. Only 76 patients required 30-day opioid prescription refill. On regression, factors associated with a discharge prescription > 200 OME included ≥ 65 years of age (OR 0.64 (95%CI 0.41-0.98)) and no TAP block (OR 1.7 (95%CI 1.2-2.5)) but not preoperative opioid utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

TAP blocks in low-grade appendicitis were associated with reduced OME prescribed, hospital duration of stay, and fewer refills without impacting operative time or total hospital costs.

American Association for the Surgery of Trauma emergency general surgery guidelines gap analysis

BACKGROUND

Emergency general surgery (EGS) has been rapidly adopted as one of the major components of acute care surgery. Although heterogenous, the most common disease states that comprise EGS often have published guidelines containing recommendations for their diagnosis and management. Not all diseases included within EGS however have published guidelines and existing guidelines may have important gaps in their recommendations. We present a thorough assessment of the existing guidelines for the most common EGS diseases and highlight gaps that will require additional literature review or new research to fill.

METHODS

Literature searches for existing comprehensive guidelines were performed. These guidelines were summarized based on level of supporting evidence and further subcategorized based on American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grade of disease. Using these summaries, gaps in the exiting recommendations were then generated and refined through review by at least two authors.

RESULTS

The initial gap analysis focused on diverticulitis, acute pancreatitis, small bowel obstruction and acute cholecystitis. Despite extensive research into each of these disease processes, critical questions regarding diagnosis and management remain to be answered. Gaps were the result of either low quality research or a complete lack of research. The use of the AAST grade of disease established a framework for evaluating these guidelines and grouping the recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite extensive prior research, EGS diseases have multiple areas where additional research would likely result in improved patient care. Consensus on the most important areas for additional research can be obtained through analysis of gaps in existing guidelines. This gap analysis has the potential to inform efforts around developing a research agenda for EGS.