Key result
Surgeon intraoperative assessment of the appendix disagrees with pathology in ~13% of cases.
Why the study?
Does intra-operative macroscopic assessment by surgeons accurately identify appendicitis compared to histopathological assessment in patients undergoing emergency appendicectomy?
Cohort (n=3,138)
Yes
Does intra-operative macroscopic assessment by surgeons accurately identify appendicitis compared to histopathological assessment in patients undergoing emergency appendicectomy?
Effect estimate: Kappa 0.571
Surgeons' intra-operative macroscopic assessment of the appendix is inaccurate, supporting the removal of the appendix at the time of surgery regardless of appearance.
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Caution advised against relying solely on intraoperative macroscopic assessment; observational data leaves open optimal appendicectomy decision algorithms.
Strong et al. (2015) conducted a cohort in Appendicitis (n=3,138). Surgeon's intra-operative macroscopic assessment vs. Histopathological assessment was evaluated on Agreement between surgeon and pathologist (Kappa 0.571). Surgeons' intra-operative macroscopic assessment of the appendix showed only moderate reliability compared to pathology (Kappa 0.571), with overall disagreement in 12.5% of cases.
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