Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis Cases During the Covid-19 Pandemic Period: A Retrospective Study
Evaluation of Acute Appendicitis Cases During the Covid-19
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10020933Keywords:
Covid-19 pandemic, Acute appendicitis, Surgical managementAbstract
Abstract:
Aim:
The Covid-19 pandemic has imposed an increased burden on healthcare resources, leading to changes in emergency department admissions and clinical presentations. This study aims to assess potential changes in the management of acute appendicitis patients in surgical practice before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Methods:
Demographic data, surgical procedures, length of hospital stay, preoperative laboratory results, radiological evaluations, intraoperative findings, drainage usage, pathological results, and postoperative complication rates of patients undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis before the Covid-19 pandemic (September 11, 2018 - March 11, 2020) and during the pandemic (March 11, 2020 - September 11, 2021) were retrospectively evaluated.
Results:
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it was found that the age and length of hospital stay of total appendicitis cases significantly decreased compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic (p=0.002 and p=0.040). While the rates of open appendectomy were higher before the Covid-19 pandemic (%79.9 vs. %60.7), it was observed that the rates of laparoscopic appendectomy were higher during the Covid-19 pandemic compared to before (p<0.001). Similarly, while the rates of perforated appendicitis were higher before the pandemic (%20.3 vs. %16.8), the rates of acute appendicitis were higher during the pandemic compared to before (%82.2 vs. %77.8), with the difference being statistically close to significance (p=0.078).
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that there was no decrease in hospital admissions for acute appendicitis cases during the Covid-19 pandemic, and there was no increase in post-appendectomy complication rates. The preference for laparoscopic appendectomy may have contributed to shorter patient hospitalization. Furthermore, changes in radiological evaluation preferences were observed during the pandemic period.
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