Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have developed a new ‘risk calculator’ that can help diagnose appendicitis in children and provide tailored medical and surgical guidance.
Researchers from Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota and HealthPartners Institute in the US used data collected from ten paediatric emergency departments to develop the risk calculator and then independently validated the score using data from a single children’s hospital.
Potential benefits of using the new risk calculator include a reduction in the use of computed tomography (CT), more judicious utilisation of ultrasound and a reduction in healthcare expenditures. “This method is of great benefit to our patients and the health care system overall,” said AnupamKharbanda, chief of critical care services at Children’s Minnesota.
“In addition to being able to target our care specifically to each patient, we’re also reducing the use of unnecessary medical tests and expenses,” said Kharbanda. “We’re thrilled to have developed a new way to standardise care for children and adolescents with abdominal pain,” he said.