Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 19, Issue 6 409-414, Copyright © 2000 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Ultrasonography improves diagnostic accuracy of acute appendicitis and provides cost savings to hospitals in Japan
Y. Fujii, J. Hata, K. Futagami, T. Hamada, H. Mitsuoka, K. Teramen, G. Konemori and K. Suenaga
Department of Gastroenterology, Miyoshi General Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
A cost analysis based on changes in patient care was used to evaluate the
utility of abdominal ultrasonography in both the clinical management of
patients clinically suspected of having acute appendicitis and in reducing
expenditure of hospital resources. Among the 200 patients suspected of
having acute appendicitis, 57 actually had acute appendicitis.
Interpretation of appendiceal ultrasonographic results was 98.5% accurate.
The ultrasonographic result led to changes in the treatment of 103
patients. Moreover, ultrasonography led to the prevention of unnecessary
appendectomy in 25 patients, providing a savings to the hospital of about
Yen 8,013,450 ($65,150), and prevented unnecessary hospital admission for
78 patient-days, thus saving the hospital approximately Yen 1,199,250
($9750). The cost of performing the 200 ultrasonographic examinations was
about Yen 1,096,176 ($8912), and thus the overall savings to the hospital
was approximately Yen 40,590 ($330) per patient. Ultrasonography performed
in patients with suspected acute appendicitis improves patient diagnostic
accuracy, thus leading to more appropriate selection of patient treatment
and reduced hospital expenditure.
