%0 Journal Article
%T Alteration in emergency theatre prioritisation does not alter outcome for acute appendicitis: comparative cohort study
%A Stefano Partelli
%A Sabina Beg
%A Juliette Brown
%A Soumil Vyas
%A Hemant M Kocher
%J World Journal of Emergency Surgery
%D 2009
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1749-7922-4-22
%X To investigate if a change in the emergency theatre prioritisation affects outcomes for a common urgent operation such as appendicectomy.We prospectively recorded data from 67 patients undergoing appendicectomy, for two cohorts of patients: before and after change in theatre prioritisation: Group 1 (Jan-Mar) and 2 (Aug-Oct) respectively. Demographic and peri-operative data, time from admission to surgery, postoperative length of stay and total length of stay and complications were compared.The two groups were comparable with regards to gender, age, time of admission and histological confirmation of appendicitis. No differences between the two groups were found regarding time from admission to surgery (24.4 (95% CI 11.2;27.6) hours versus 16.1 (95% CI 10.4;21.7) hours, Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.35), postoperative length of stay (90.8 (95% CI 61.4;120.1) hours versus 70 (95% CI 48.3;91.6) hours, Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.25) and total length of stay (115.2 (95% CI 84.6;145.7) hours versus 86 (95% CI 61.6;110.4) hours, Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.07) as well as complication or re-admission rates.A change in the emergency theatre prioritisation does not affect outcome for appendicectomy. Provision of a second emergency theatre could be a solution to reduce the delays in acute surgical operations.Appendicectomy is amongst the commonest acute surgical operation of intermediate nature, which if not treated in a timely manner could be life-threatening. During the working week (Monday¨CFriday) urgent and emergency surgery is often delayed until the elective operating list has finished [1], particularly for non-life or limb threatening situations. The American College of Surgeons recommend the provision of a dedicated trauma operating theatre [2];this intervention could reduce the incidence of complications [3]. In the UK, the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD) annually recommends changes in management policies affecting patient outcomes bas
%U http://www.wjes.org/content/4/1/22