Annals of surgery
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To define risk factors that predict adverse outcomes after the surgical treatment of appendicitis in Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. ⋯ Morbidity and mortality rates after the surgical treatment of appendicitis in VA hospitals are comparable with those reported in other large series. Most postsurgical complications are associated with an increased 30-day mortality rate. The models presented here are the most robust available in predicting 30-day morbidity and mortality for VA patients with appendicitis. Furthermore, they provide a starting point for the design of similar models to evaluate non-VA patients with appendicitis using the data the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program is currently gathering from private hospitals.