Sammanfattning
Diagnostic errors in 49 patients with appendicitis handled by the Swedish Health and Social Care Inspectorate were analyzed. Diagnostic errors were more common in young or old patients, and among patients with atypical symptoms. Adjunct diagnostic tools, such as computerized tomography and/or ultrasound examination, also have limitations as regards diagnostic precision, and should therefore not be seen as golden standard. Increased individual knowledge, and not systems factors or safety culture, appears to be a suitable remedy against diagnostic errors.