The effect of the Covid 19 pandemic on the number of patients treated for acute and complex acute appendicitis

Abstract

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the increase in the number of complicated cases in patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic and the previous year. 

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective examination was made of the files of patients who presented at the Emergency Department and were diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent surgery within 24 hours or were followed up between 11 March and 1 June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the same period in the previous year. The patients in the pandemic period were named the pandemic group (PG) and the patients from the previous year, the control group (CG). The definition of complicated appendicitis included peri-appendicular abscess and perforated appendix. 

RESULTS: The number of patients in the PG was 38.33% lower than in the CG. The duration of symptoms was 2 days in the PG and 1 day in the CG, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). The mean neutrophil count was determined to be higher in the PG than in the CG (p=0.018). The rate of perforated appendix was determined to be 10.9 higher in the PG than in the CG. 

CONCLUSION: The number of patients presenting at the Emergency Department reduced during the pandemic, especially during periods of lockdown, and it was seen that fewer but more complicated patients presented at our centre.