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Appendectomy is the most common intra-abdominal pediatric procedure, and appendiceal rupture rates are now being used to monitor healthcare disparities. To determine whether rupture rates are associated with socioeconomic status, investigators analyzed appendicitis rupture rates in children (age, ≤18 years) in Manitoba, Canada, from 1983 to 2003.
Of 7475 appendectomies, 29% were performed for a ruptured appendix; the percentage of ruptured cases increased significantly during the study period. The total appendectomy rate was 1.2 per 1000 children per year; the rate declined significantly during the study period. Total rupture rates were inversely correlated with socioeconomic status; the highest rupture rates occurred in the lowest socioecon…