Quality of Care in Appendicitis: Regional Hospitals Outperform Tertiary Care Centers

A comparative study of 2,158 adult appendicitis patients in different hospital settings revealed notable differences in surgical outcomes. Patients in tertiary care hospitals experienced longer surgical waiting times, increased surgical delays, longer operation times, higher rates of appendix perforation, and greater hospital costs compared to those in regional hospitals. Factors linked to surgical delays were the hospital type and delayed diagnosis, while postoperative complications were associated with older age, male sex, surgical delay, and appendix perforation. The study suggests the need for an efficient referral system to enhance patient care and reduce medical costs.