ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Acute care surgery (ACS) was initiated two decades ago to address timeliness and quality in emergency general surgery. We hypothesized that ACS has improved the management of acute appendicitis and biliary disease. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of outcome studies for emergent appendectomy and cholecystectomy from 1966 to 2017, comparing studies prior to and following ACS implementation, were performed. RESULTS: Of 1,704 studies, 27 were selected for analysis (appendicitis, 16; biliary pathology, 7; both, 4). Following ACS introduction, the complication rate was significantly reduced in both appendectomy and cholecystectomy (risk ratios, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-0.85; I = 9.2% and relative risk, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.94; I = 63.5%) respectively. There was a significant reduction in the time from arrival in emergency until admission and from admission to operation (-1.37 hours: 95% CI, -1.93 to -0.80; -2.51 hours: 95% CI, -4.44 to -0.58) in the appendectomy cohort. Time to operation was shorter in the cholecystectomy group (-6.46 hours; 95% CI, -9.54 to -3.4). Length of hospital stay was reduced in both groups (appendectomy, -0.9 day; cholecystectomy, -1.09 day). There was a reduction in overall cost in cholecystectomy group (-US $854.37; 95% CI, -1,554.1 to -154.05). No statistical significance was detected for wound infection, abscess, conversion of laparoscopy to open technique, rate of negative appendectomy, after hours, readmission, and cost. CONCLUSION: The implementation of ACS models in general surgery emergency care has significantly improved system and patient outcomes for appendicitis and biliary pathology. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review and meta-analysis of a retrospective study, level III.
