The treatment of acute appendicitis in two age-based groups during COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective experience in a COVID-19 referral hospital.

PURPOSE: During the past months, the Italian Government has reduced the restrictions and access to hospitals as well as outpatient. Since then, up to 40% of non-traumatic abdominal emergencies have had unusual delayed treatment. Given the rapidly evolving situation and the absence of evidence to support recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is useful to assess how the current situation is influencing the management of elderly patients with acute appendicitis. METHODS: Between February 2020 and December 2020, all patients 18 years or older undergone appendectomy were included. Patients were divided in two age-based groups (young groups, YG; elderly group, EG). Surgical approach, hospital stay, post-operative complications, radiology reports, and histologic examination were included in the retrospective analysis. RESULTS: One hundred eight patients underwent appendectomy, 81 patients into the YG, and 27 in the EG. Laparoscopy was performed in 87.7% of the YG and in 51.8% of the elderly (p < 0.000), while conversion to laparotomy was necessary in 3.7% in the YG vs 22.3% of the other group (p < 0.009). Open procedures were more frequent in the EG, 25.9% vs 8.6% (p value < 0.05). No mortality rate was reported in both groups; moreover, the mean hospital stay was greater in the EG than the YG (p < 0.000). CONCLUSION: Our data highlighted a partial delay in diagnosis in the elderly group, and an increase in complicated appendicitis also demonstrated by the need for conversion to laparotomy despite no significant relationship between these findings and the histologic examination was reported.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Multicentric Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many scientific committees proposed neoadjuvant therapy (NACT) bridging treatment as a novel strategy and indication. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer patients undergoing NACT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All breast cancer patients referred to two Breast Units during COVID-19-pandemic were enrolled. RESULTS: Out of 814 patients, 43(5.3%) were enrolled in the COVID-19-group and compared with 94 (7.9%) similar Pre-COVID-19 patients. We observed a reduction in the number of patients undergoing NACT, p=0.0019. No difference was reported in terms of clinical presentation, indications, and tumor response. In contrast, a higher number of vascular adverse events was reported (6.9% vs. 0% p=0.029). Immediate breast cancer reconstructions following invasive surgery suffered a significant slowdown (5.9% vs. 47.7%, p=0.019). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 caused a reduction in the number of patients undergoing NACT, with no changes in terms of indications, clinical presentation, and tumor response. Furthermore, there was an increased incidence of vascular events.

Sclerotherapy with 3% polidocanol foam for third- and fourth-degree hemorrhoids as "bridge treatment" during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

PURPOSE: In Italy, colorectal surgery has been strongly affected with the vast majority (90%) of operations treating benign diseases, with an estimated overall 12-week cancellation rate of 72%. Little is known on how to best manage patients with benign diseases and the consequences this interruption of care will have in post-pandemic times. Proctologic diseases have social, psychological, and healthcare repercussions for their high incidence and great impact on the quality of life. METHODS: We decided to treated 10 urgent cases affected from III- and IV-degree hemorrhoids with 3% polidocanol foam in attempt to reduce hemorrhoidal symptoms while waiting for surgery so called "bridge treatment". RESULTS: During the follow-up no complications were occurred, and all patients had resolution of bleeding and pruritus with a mean VAS of 1 (range, 0-1). CONCLUSIONS: This treatment could reduce the bleeding that is the main symptom from which patients suffer and for which they underwent proctological evaluation and surgery. According to our preliminary experience in the impossibility of accessing the surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic, ST could be considered as the treatment of choice in those patients who are suffering from grade III- and IV-degree hemorrhoids while waiting for surgery.