The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute appendicitis cases

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected healthcare systems around the world, and has led to changes in the clinical and treatment approaches to all diseases. To reveal the reflection and negative effects of the psychological trauma associated with the COVID-19 pandemic among those with acute appendicitis. A retrospective analysis is made of the data of patients admitted to the emergency departments in our city (Trabzon, Turkey) and taken into operation. Comparative analysis of two patient groups diagnosed with acute appendicitis in our region was included in our study: In the COVID-19 pandemic period (Group 2); and on the same dates a year ago (Group 1). Groups 1 and 2 comprised 231 and 144 patients, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the type of anesthesia between the groups (p = 0.280). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of median duration of surgery (p = 0.239). There was a statistically significant difference in the pathological diagnoses of Groups 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). Considering the pathological diagnoses, a significant difference was established in the duration of hospital stay of the cases, which was longer in patients diagnosed with perforated appendicitis (p < 0.001). It is apparent that during the COVID-19 outbreak, hospitals are associated with increased transmission risk, causing people to delay their referral to the emergency department, and leading to an increase in irreversible complications and mortality rates.

Keywords

• COVID-19 Pandemic
• Emergency general surgery
• Appendicitis

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