Appendicitis in COVID19 Pandemic Era. Early experience of an International Referral Center of Pediatric Surgery

ABSTRACT

AIM: We describe treatments of acute appendicitis at "Bambino Gesu" Children's Hospital during the peak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in Italy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From March 1st to May 31st, all suspected appendicitis admitted to hospital entered this study. Following Institutional COVID19-protocol, between March 1st-21st, only patients with respiratory symptoms and/or history of recent travel to risk areas received nasopharyngeal swab. From March 22nd to May 31st, protocol was adapted to worsening epidemic conditions and a pre-triage area has been arranged to accommodate all patients undergoing the swab. RESULTS: 14 out of 53 patients were hospitalized between march 1st-21st, 39 from march 22nd to may 31st. swab was performed in 2 patient of first group and in all of second. DISCUSSION: During the study period, no covid19-contagion occurred in hospital staff by covid19-patients. CONCLUSION: Our covid19-protocol protected staff and patients allowing the maintenance of our standard of treatment. KEY WORDS Appendicitis, Children, Covid19, Sars-cov-2.