Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified

Análise dos serviços hospitalares clínicos aos idosos vítimas de acidentes e violências Analysis of hospital clinical services to elderly victims of accidents and violence

O aumento de idosos na população e a vida mais ativa permitem maior exposição a acidentes e violências nessa população. Realizou-se uma análise diagnóstica dos serviços hospitalares de atendimento às urgências e emergências às vítimas de acidentes e violências na população idosa de cinco capitais do Brasil. A investigação foi fundamentada nos princípios da triangulação de métodos, integrando as abordagens quantitativa, com a aplicação de questionários aos gestores e profissionais de serviços de atenção hospitalar, e qualitativa, em que foram realizadas entrevistas com gestores e profissionais. Com base nas diretrizes das políticas estudadas, observou-se que nenhuma das capitais cumpriu todos os requisitos, apresentando um atendimento deficiente caracterizado pela falta de estrutura para manter um acompanhante para o idoso, encaminhamentos para serviços de referência, protocolos clínicos específicos, fichas de notificação, suporte aos idosos, capacitação profissional e definição do fluxo para tal população. Os resultados demonstraram que os serviços de saúde selecionados não apresentam o perfil adequado e integral necessário ao atendimento aos idosos, demonstrando a necessidade de adequação desses serviços para o cumprimento das diretrizes das políticas analisadas.<br>The increase of elderly population and more active life allow a greater exposure to accidents and violence in this population. A diagnostic analysis of hospital services for emergency and urgent care to victims of accidents and violence in the elderly population was carried out in five capitals of Brazil. The research was based on the principles of triangulation of methods, including quantitative approaches, through the application of questionnaires to managers and pre-hospital, hospital and rehabilitation service professionals, as well as qualitative, in which interviews were made with managers and professionals and with those in charge of elderly health. Based on the guidelines of the policies studied, it was realized that none of the capitals has met all requirements, with a poor attendance characterized by lack of structure to keep a companion for the elderly, referrals to reference services, specific clinical protocols, reporting sheets, support to the elderly, job training and definition of the flow for this population. The outcome showed that the selected health services do not have the appropriate and integral profile to look after the elderly population, demonstrating the need for adequacy of these services aiming the accomplishment of the guidelines of the policies reviewed