Effect of Clinical Decision Support on Diagnostic Imaging for Pediatric Appendicitis

Abstract

Appendicitis is the most common pediatric surgical emergency, with more than 75 000 cases in the United States each year.1 Despite its high frequency, distinguishing appendicitis from other causes of acute abdominal pain remains a challenge.2 Pressures to improve emergency department (ED) efficiency, while preventing negative appendectomies and missed appendicitis, have contributed to heavy utilization of computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) in patients with suspected appendicitis.3,4