Muhannad Hafi MD

Abstract Background:  Following an appendectomy, surgeons define appendicitis, for treatment and billing purposes, into one of four categories: normal appendix, acute appendicitis, gangrenous appendicitis, and perforated appendicitis. Treatment of appendicitis is predicated upon classification at the time of visual inspection. Further, this classification often plays a role in the assessment of hospital outcomes. The currently accepted classification system is based solely upon intraoperative surgeon opinion and not objective data. Inconsistent surgeon grading of the severity of appendicitis may have implications in both management and outcomes. Objective:  The aim of this study was to assess the interobserver variation among surgeons in grading of the inflammatory severity of acute appendicitis as recognized on visual findings at operation. Methods:  A cross-sectional study design. 110 surgeons, and surgical residents were randomly selected. Surgeons were s...