Clinical differentiation between acute appendicitis and acute mesenteric lymphadenitis in children.

Introduction: Acute mesenteric lymphadenitis in children has a clinical presentation very similar to that of acute appendicitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether it is possible to clinically differentiate between acute appendicitis and acute mesenteric lymphadenitis in children.

Methods: A prospective cohort analysis was performed for all children (<17 years) presenting to the emergency department of our institution with acute abdominal pain between June 2005 and July 2006.

Assessing the quality of surgical care in vascular surgery; moving from outcome towards structural and process measures.

Objectives: This study presents a review of studies reporting on quality of care in vascular surgery. The aim of this study was to provide insight in quality improvement initiatives in vascular surgery.

Design: Original data were collected from MEDLINE and EMBASE databases.

Routine ultrasound and limited computed tomography for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

Background: Acute appendicitis continues to be a challenging diagnosis. Preoperative radiological imaging using ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT) has gained popularity as it may offer a more accurate diagnosis than classic clinical evaluation. The optimal implementation of these diagnostic modalities has yet to be established.

Patient and procedure-related risk factors for adverse events after infrainguinal bypass.

Background: Current medical practice urges individual health care facilities and medical professionals to obtain and provide detailed insight in quality of care with the possibility of comparing data between institutions. Adverse event (AE) analysis serves as a mainstay in quality assessment in vascular surgery, but the comparison of AE data between facilities can be complex. The aim of the present study was to assess independent risk factors for AE occurrence: patient, disease and operation characteristics besides general differences between health care facilities.

Standard outpatient re-evaluation for patients not admitted to the hospital after emergency department evaluation for acute abdominal pain.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of standard outpatient re-evaluation for patients who are not admitted to the hospital after emergency department surgical consultation for acute abdominal pain.

Methods: All patients seen at the emergency department between June 2005 and July 2006 for acute abdominal pain were included in a prospective study using a structured diagnosis and management flowchart. Patients not admitted to the hospital were given appointments for re-evaluation at the outpatient clinic within 24 h.