Appendicitis in the COVID-19 era: a modern challenge for experienced hands.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl
; 103(7): 481-486, 2021 Jul.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1288678
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The first wave of COVID-19 was accompanied by global uncertainty. Delayed presentation of patients to hospitals ensued, with surgical pathologies no exception. This study aimed to assess whether delayed presentations resulted in more complex appendicectomies during the first wave of COVID-19.METHODS:
Operation notes for all presentations of appendicitis (n=216) within a single health board (three hospitals) during two three-month periods (control period (pre-COVID) vs COVID pandemic) were analysed, and the severity of appendicitis was recorded as per the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grading system.RESULTS:
Presentations of appendicitis were delayed during the COVID period with a median duration of symptoms prior to hospital attendance of two days versus one day (p=0.003) with individuals presenting with higher median white cell count than during the control period (14.9 vs 13.3, p=0.031). Use of preoperative CT scanning (OR 3.013, 95% CI 1.694-5.358, p<0.001) increased significantly. More complex appendicectomies (AAST grade >1) were performed (OR 2.102, 95% CI 1.155-3.826, p=0.015) with a greater consultant presence during operations (OR 4.740, 95% CI 2.523-8.903, p<0.001). Despite the greater AAST scores recorded during the COVID period, no increase in postoperative complications was observed (OR 1.145, 95% CI 0.404-3.244, p=0.798).CONCLUSIONS:
Delayed presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with more complex cases of appendicitis. Important lessons can be learnt from the changes in practice employed as a result of this global pandemic.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Appendectomy
/
Appendicitis
/
Severity of Illness Index
/
Time-to-Treatment
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Young adult
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann R Coll Surg Engl
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Rcsann.2021.0089
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