Acute appendicitis: Covid-19 pandemic did not change presentation and treatment

Abstract

AIM: This single-tertiary non-Covid center retrospective study analyses the impact on Covid-19 pandemic on the presentation and the treatment in patients operated for acute appendicitis.

METHODS: Total number of 152 patients operated for acute appendicitis in two separate periods (April – August 2019, and April – August 2020), were subjected to retrospective analysis. Patients were divided in two groups: pre-pandemic Group A and pandemic Group B.

RESULTS: Eighty one patient was operated in the pandemic period and the rest 71 one year ago in the same period.

Preoperative C-reactive protein levels presented statistically higher in the pandemic group (p = 0.0455). Time from admission to surgery was shorter in the pandemic group (7.5 ± 4.6 vs 5.8 ± 4.9; p = 0.0155). Overall operative time and the laparoscopic operative time were statistically longer in the pandemic group (68.8 vs. 76.8 minutes; p = 0.039 and 60.04 vs 74.0 minutes; p = 0.0141, respectively). Complicated appendicitis rates were similar, although periappendicular abscess was more common in the pandemic group, but without statistical significance. Length of stay was shorter in the pandemic group (p = 0.53).

CONCLUSION: Our data showed that during the Covid-pandemic, acute appendicitis surgery is safe and feasible with results equal to the prepandemic period.