The course of acute appendicitis disease i̇n the COVID-19 period

Abstract

The COVID 19 outbreak has changed the course of diseases requiring emergency surgery. Our aim in this study is to reveal whether the COVID 19 pandemic complicates acute appendicitis (AA) disease or not. We retrospectively investigated the patients who were diagnosed with AA in our city (Rize, Turkey). Our study includes two patient groups over 16 years of age who were operated on for AA. Group 2 includes patients operated between 11 March 2020 and 31 December 2020, while Group 1 includes patients who were operated on during the same period in 2019. There were 298 patients (57%) in Group 1 and 226 patients (43%) in Group 2. In Group 2, midline or paramedian incisions were used significantly more than the classical Mc Burney incision: (%10 vs %20, p<0.003). Postoperative complications were significantly higher in Group 2: (%5 vs %12, p<0.004). White blood cells and CRP were significantly different in Group 2 in the admission blood tests (p<0.005, p<0.001, respectively). Operation time and hospitalization time were significantly different in Group 2 (p<0.001, p<0.014, respectively). During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a serious decrease in the number of patients admitted to the emergency services. Because people were afraid of being infected, they preferred to stay home and with the increase in complaints, they applied to the hospital. AA disease has also become more complicated, as people delayed their admission to the hospital. Serious changes happened in the course of the disease.