ABSTRACT
Purpose/Background: The massive inflow of patients with COVID-19 requiring urgent care has overloaded hospitals and impacts the management of other patients. It is indeed not simple as thought to be to reduce emergency surgery without resulting in a loss of the patient. Acute appendicitis is a very unique situation and the frequency of this disease leads us to appraise this particular disease within the scope of COVID-19 crisis. On the other hand, patients seem to hesitate in admission to hospital as often as before because of the concern of getting infected by the virus. In this study, our aim is to demonstrate the clinical features of the patients diagnosed and underwent appendectomy before and after the pandemic. Methods/Interventions: 116 patients included in this study which underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Group-1 (44 patients) consists of the patients which operated before the first case diagnosed for Covid-19 in Turkey (January,1,2020 - March,18.2020);and Group-2 (72 patients) consisted of the patients which operated after Covid-19 spread (March,19,2020 - May,31,2020). Patients evaluated in respect of Alvarado scores;Ultrasonographic findings as positive or negative for appendicitis and postoperative histopathological reports along with demographic features. Results/Outcome(s): Mean Alvarado scores of Group-2 was significantly higher than Group-1 (p<0.005). Positive reporting rate on Ultrasonography for Group-2 was significantly higher then Group-2;furthermore positive surgical exploration of Group-2 was also significantly higher than Group-1. Postoperative pathological reports revealed the significantly higher rates of perforation/microperforation of Group-2 as well. Conclusions/Discussion: In the light of the outcomes of the current study, we can suggest that the anxiety of people for avoidance from the virus can lead the delayed diagnose and treatment of acute appendicitis which is highly associated with postoperative serious surgical complications.