Evaluation of complications after laparoscopic and open appendectomy by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program surgical risk calculator

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the predictive level of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) risk calculator for post-appendectomy complications. METHODS: A total of 292 patients who were hospitalized for general appendectomy were included in the study. The age range of the patients was 18–76 years (mean: 35.3±13.6 years). The mean body mass index was 25.8±4.6. Twenty data points were entered into the ACS-NSQIP surgical risk calculator (SRC), which yielded the 17 most common complications and the average LOHS. Complications encountered in 30-day follow-up were categorized according to the complications predicted by SRC. The actual and observed complication rates and LOHS were compared RESULTS: Post-operative complications developed in 13.4% of the patients, surgical site infection in 11.3%, serious complications in 3.1%, and readmission in 2.1%. Serious complications included pneumonia, sepsis, cardiac complications, and renal failure. The mean LOHS was 1.91±1.64 days (range: 1–14 days). No thromboembolism or mortality was observed. When the comparison of complications using SRC was made with the ROC curve, the predictive value of SRC was 84.2% for any complication, 86.7% for serious complication, 47.6% for surgical site infection, 95.9% for renal failure, 99.0% for resurgery, and 88.3% for sepsis. CONCLUSION: Although it is rare to see complications after simple appendectomy, it is known that complication rates increase significantly in the elderly, the obese, and those with comorbidities. Tools such as SRC will be beneficial for patients with these risk factors.