JAMA surgery
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Multicenter Study
Association of Intraoperative Findings With Outcomes and Resource Use in Children With Complicated Appendicitis.
The influence of disease severity on outcomes and use of health care resources in children with complicated appendicitis is poorly characterized. Adjustment for variation in disease severity may have implications for ensuring fair reimbursement and comparative performance reporting among hospitals. ⋯ More severe presentations of complicated appendicitis are associated with worse outcomes and greater resource use. Severity adjustment may be needed to ensure fair reimbursement and comparative performance reporting, particularly at hospitals treating underserved populations where more severe presentations are common.