Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pilonidal and perianal abscesses

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Early in the coronavirus pandemic, guidelines and consensus have been proposed for the management of various general surgical emergencies to help surgeons serve the best interests of patients during an unprecedented time. There has been an agreement that certain conditions such as acute appendicitis should be managed conservatively with antibiotics whereas strong emphasis was put on the importance of timely surgical intervention on perianal and other superficial abscesses. Methods: Using ICD-10 codes, we investigated the impact of COVID-19 on surgical admissions due to perianal, pilonidal abscesses and acute appendicitis as comparison between March and November in 2020 and compared it to the same period in 2019. Results: The total number of surgical admissions due to perianal and pilonidal abscesses decreased by 22.5 and 31.7%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2019. Most of the decline was noted during the first wave, from March to July. Whereas acute appendicitis admissions remained comparatively constant between 2019 and 2020. Conclusion: Despite guidance regarding operative management of abscesses during the pandemic, the total number of surgical admissions due to perianal and pilonidal abscesses was reduced in comparison to the same period in 2019. Most of the decline was noted during the first wave, from March to July. This might result in higher rate of complications presenting at a later time.