Predictors of Clinical Outcomes in Pediatric Appendicitis: Role of the Individual Sonographer and Radiologist When Using a First-Line Ultrasound Approach.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if differences between individual sonographers and radiologists performing and interpreting appendix ultrasound affect clinically important outcomes in children with suspected acute appendicitis.

METHODS

Patients <18 years of age who presented to our emergency department (ED) with suspected acute appendicitis and underwent an appendix ultrasound were identified. Sonographers who performed fewer than 100 examinations and radiologists who interpreted fewer than 100 examinations during the study period were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the effect of sonographer, radiologist, clinical variables, and system factors on key clinical outcomes, including hospital admission and appendectomy.

RESULTS

In all, 9,283 appendix ultrasounds (mean age, 9.9 ± 4.2 years; 5,400 [58.2%] boys) performed by 31 sonographers (mean number of examinations, 299 ± 140 [range, 115-610]) and interpreted by 31 radiologists (mean number of examinations, 299 ± 157 [range, 101-845]) were included. Mean admission frequency per sonographer was 34.0% ± 3.3% (range, 27.8%-42.6%) and per radiologist was 33.5% ± 3.9% (range, 23.7%-41.6%). Mean appendectomy frequency per sonographer was 20.3% ± 2.6% (range, 14.9%-27.0%) and per radiologist was 20.3% ± 3.1% (range, 15.2%-28.7%). Significant multivariable predictors of hospital admission included temperature (P < .0001), white blood cell count (P < .0001), male sex (P = .002), imaging performed at the main hospital (versus satellite hospital) (P = .001), abdominal tenderness with ultrasound transducer compression (P < .0001), presence of rebound tenderness (P = .001), and presence of acute appendicitis by ultrasound (P < .0001), but not sonographer or radiologist. Predictors of appendectomy included weight (P < .0001), white blood cell count (P < .0001), male sex (P = .0004), abdominal tenderness with ultrasound transducer compression (P < .0001), and the presence of acute appendicitis by ultrasound (P < .0001), but not sonographer or radiologist.

CONCLUSION

Differences in individual sonographers and radiologists did not predict clinically important outcomes in children undergoing ultrasound in the ED for suspected acute appendicitis.