Delayed diagnosis and subsequently increased severity of acute appendicitis (compatible with clinical-pathologic grounds) during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational case-control study.
BMC Gastroenterol
; 22(1): 19, 2022 Jan 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1622211
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
During a global crisis like the current COVID-19 pandemic, delayed admission to hospital in cases of emergent medical illness may lead to serious adverse consequences. We aimed to determine whether such delayed admission affected the severity of an inflammatory process regarding acute appendicitis, and its convalescence.METHODS:
In a retrospective observational cohort case-control study, we analyzed the medical data of 60 patients who were emergently and consecutively admitted to our hospital due to acute appendicitis as established by clinical presentation and imaging modalities, during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic (our study group). We matched a statistically control group consisting of 97 patients who were admitted during a previous 12-month period for the same etiology. All underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. The main study parameters included intraoperative findings (validated by histopathology), duration of abdominal pain prior to admission, hospital stay and postoperative convalescence (reflecting the consequences of delay in diagnosis and surgery).RESULTS:
The mean duration of abdominal pain until surgery was significantly longer in the study group. The rate of advanced appendicitis (suppurative and gangrenous appendicitis as well as peri-appendicular abscess) was greater in the study than in the control group (38.3 vs. 21.6%, 23.3 vs. 16.5%, and 5 vs. 1% respectively), as well as mean hospital stay.CONCLUSIONS:
A global crisis like the current viral pandemic may significantly affect emergent admissions to hospital (as in case of acute appendicitis), leading to delayed surgical interventions and its consequences.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Appendicitis
/
Laparoscopy
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Gastroenterol
Journal subject:
Gastroenterology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12876-021-02024-9
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS