Audit reveals improved negative appendicectomy rates and surgical timing in pediatric appendicitis care, suggesting better adherence to GIRFT guidelines.
Key Points
The second audit cycle showed a decrease in the negative appendicectomy rate from 22% to 4%, indicating improved diagnostic accuracy.
Median time to surgery improved from 23 hours to 19.25 hours, highlighting enhanced surgical timing for pediatric appendicitis cases.
Complication rates fell from 18% to 6%, reflecting better management practices in adherence to established guidelines.
Despite improvements, antibiotic prescribing remains inconsistent, underpinning the need for standardized protocols in pediatric care.