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The SMML, van Amstel P, Noordzij SM, Bakx R, Bijlsma TS, Derikx JPM, van Heurn LWE, van der Kuip M, Gorter RR. Trends in Simple and Complex Appendicitis in Children and the Potential Correlation to Common Viral Pathogens-A Retrospective Cohort Study between 2010 and 2019 in The Netherlands. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1912. [PMID: 38136114 PMCID: PMC10741496 DOI: 10.3390/children10121912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the annual, seasonal and monthly trends in children with simple and complex appendicitis and their correlation to common viral pathogens in the Netherlands. A consecutive multicenter retrospective cohort study was performed between 2010 and 2019 including children (<18 years) surgically treated for appendicitis. The primary outcome was the distribution of children with simple and complex appendicitis per year, season and month. Relevant seasonal variation was defined as ≥5%. The secondary outcome was a positive correlation of the number of patients with simple and complex appendicitis to common viral pathogens (data anonymously provided by the Dutch Working Group on Clinical Virology from the Dutch Society for Clinical Microbiology (NVMM)). In total, 896 patients were included: N = 524 (58%) patients with simple and N = 372 (42%) with complex appendicitis. Of the children aged 0-5 years, 81% had complex appendicitis, versus 38% in 6-18 years (p < 0.001). An overall decline was demonstrated for both simple and complex appendicitis between 2010 and 2019. No seasonal variation was found for simple appendicitis. For complex appendicitis, the highest number of patients was found in spring, and lowest in summer (N = 372, spring 28.2 ± 5.1% versus summer 21.0 ± 5.8%, p = 0.011), but the variance was regarded as not relevant (<5% from baseline). A positive correlation was found between complex appendicitis with Adenovirus 40.41 (R = 0.356, 95%CI 0.045-0.604, p = 0.026) and simple appendicitis with Adenovirus NON 40.41 (R = 0.332, 95%CI 0.019-0.586, p = 0.039), but these correlations did not remain significant after a Bonferroni correction (p < 0.003). In conclusion, we found no relevant seasonal variation for simple or complex appendicitis, nor positive correlation with common viral pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah-May M. L. The
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (S.-M.M.L.T.); (P.v.A.); (S.M.N.); (R.B.); (J.P.M.D.); (L.W.E.v.H.)
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul van Amstel
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (S.-M.M.L.T.); (P.v.A.); (S.M.N.); (R.B.); (J.P.M.D.); (L.W.E.v.H.)
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie M. Noordzij
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (S.-M.M.L.T.); (P.v.A.); (S.M.N.); (R.B.); (J.P.M.D.); (L.W.E.v.H.)
- Department of Surgery, Northwest Hospital, 1815 JD Alkmaar, The Netherlands;
| | - Roel Bakx
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (S.-M.M.L.T.); (P.v.A.); (S.M.N.); (R.B.); (J.P.M.D.); (L.W.E.v.H.)
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Taco. S. Bijlsma
- Department of Surgery, Northwest Hospital, 1815 JD Alkmaar, The Netherlands;
| | - Joep. P. M. Derikx
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (S.-M.M.L.T.); (P.v.A.); (S.M.N.); (R.B.); (J.P.M.D.); (L.W.E.v.H.)
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L. W. Ernest van Heurn
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (S.-M.M.L.T.); (P.v.A.); (S.M.N.); (R.B.); (J.P.M.D.); (L.W.E.v.H.)
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn van der Kuip
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Ramon R. Gorter
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam & Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (S.-M.M.L.T.); (P.v.A.); (S.M.N.); (R.B.); (J.P.M.D.); (L.W.E.v.H.)
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism Research Institute, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Menchaca AD, Style CC, Wang L, Cooper JN, Minneci PC, Olutoye OO. An Accountable Care Organization Maintains Access for Appendicitis During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Surg Res 2023; 291:336-341. [PMID: 37506433 PMCID: PMC10285208 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION It has been reported that pediatric patients experienced a delay in treatment for acute appendicitis during the pandemic, resulting in increased rates of complicated appendicitis. We investigated the association of the COVID-19 pandemic and the incidence and severity of acute appendicitis among pediatric Medicaid patients using a population-based approach. METHODS The claims database of Partners For Kids, a pediatric Medicaid accountable care organization (ACO) in Ohio, was queried for cases of acute appendicitis from April to August 2017-2020. The monthly rate of acute appendicitis/100,000 covered lives was calculated each year and compared over time. Rates of complicated appendicitis were also compared. Diagnosis code validation for classification as complicated or uncomplicated appendicitis was performed for patients treated at our hospital. RESULTS During the study period, 465 unique cases of acute appendicitis were identified. Forty percent (186/465) were coded as complicated. No significant difference in the incidence of acute appendicitis cases was observed across the 4 y, either in an overall comparison or in pairwise comparisons (P > 0.15 for all). The proportion of acute appendicitis cases that were coded as complicated did vary significantly over the 4-year study period (P = 0.005); this was due to this proportion being significantly higher in 2018 than in either 2019 (P = 0.005 versus 2018) or 2020 (P = 0.03 versus 2018). CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic was not associated with reduced access to treatment for acute appendicitis among patients in a pediatric Medicaid ACO. This suggests that an ACO may promote continued healthcare access for their covered population during an unexpected crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia D Menchaca
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Department of General Surgery, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Candace C Style
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Ling Wang
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Jennifer N Cooper
- Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Peter C Minneci
- Center for Surgical Outcomes Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Department of Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Oluyinka O Olutoye
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Department of Surgery, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.
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Andersson RE, Agiorgiti M, Bendtsen M. Spontaneous Resolution of Uncomplicated Appendicitis may Explain Increase in Proportion of Complicated Appendicitis During Covid-19 Pandemic: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. World J Surg 2023; 47:1901-1916. [PMID: 37140609 PMCID: PMC10158710 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-023-07027-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reports of an increased proportion of complicated appendicitis during the Covid-19 pandemic suggest a worse outcome due to delay secondary to the restrained access to health care, but may be explained by a concomitant decrease in uncomplicated appendicitis. We analyze the impact of the pandemic on the incidences of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis. METHOD We did a systematic literature search in the PubMed, Embase and Web Of Science databases on December 21, 2022 with the search terms (appendicitis OR appendectomy) AND ("COVID" OR SARS-Cov2 OR "coronavirus"). Studies reporting the number of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis during identical calendar periods in 2020 and the pre-pandemic year(s) were included. Reports with indications suggesting a change in how the patients were diagnosed and managed between the two periods were excluded. No protocol was prepared in advance. We did random effects meta-analysis of the change in proportion of complicated appendicitis, expressed as the risk ratio (RR), and of the change in number of patients with complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis during the pandemic compared with pre-pandemic periods, expressed as the incidence ratio (IR). We did separate analyses for studies based on single- and multi-center and regional data, age-categories and prehospital delay. RESULTS The meta-analysis of 100,059 patients in 63 reports from 25 countries shows an increase in the proportion of complicated appendicitis during the pandemic period (RR 1.39, 95% confidence interval (95% CI 1.25, 1.53). This was mainly explained by a decreased incidence of uncomplicated appendicitis (incidence ratio (IR) 0.66, 95% CI 0.59, 0.73). No increase in complicated appendicitis was seen in multi-center and regional reports combined (IR 0.98, 95% CI 0.90, 1.07). CONCLUSION The increased proportion of complicated appendicitis during Covid-19 is explained by a decrease in the incidence of uncomplicated appendicitis, whereas the incidence of complicated appendicitis remained stable. This result is more evident in the multi-center and regional based reports. This suggests an increase in spontaneously resolving appendicitis due to the restrained access to health care. This has important principal implications for the management of patients with suspected appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland E Andersson
- Department of Surgery, County Hospital Ryhov, Box 1024, SE 551 11, Jönköping, Region Jönköpings Län, Sweden.
- Futurum, Academy for Health and Care, Jönköping, Region Jönköpings Län, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Maria Agiorgiti
- Bra Liv Eksjö Primary Care Centre, Eksjö, Region Jönköping County, Sweden
- Department of Experimental Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Marcus Bendtsen
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Nguyen HV, Tran LH, Ly TH, Pham QT, Pham VQ, Tran HN, Trinh LT, Dinh TT, Pham DT, Mai Phan TA. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Severity and Early Postoperative Outcomes of Acute Appendicitis. Cureus 2023; 15:e42923. [PMID: 37546691 PMCID: PMC10400342 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused changes in surgical practice. For acute appendicitis (AA), measures to control the pandemic might hinder patients from seeking medical care timely, resulting in increasing severity, postoperative complications, and mortality. This study aimed to investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the severity and postoperative outcomes of patients with AA. Methodology We retrospectively reviewed medical records of AA patients treated operatively at Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital hospital from June 1st to September 30th in three consecutive years: pre-pandemic (2019)/Group 1, minor waves (2020)/Group 2, and major wave (2021)/Group 3 (2021). Data were collected focusing on the duration of symptoms, severity of AA, time from admission to operation, postoperative complications, and mortality. Results There were 1,055 patients, including 452 patients in Group 1, 409 in Group 2, and 194 in Group 3. The overall number of patients decreased mainly in non-complicated AA. The percentages of hospital admission after 24 hours gradually increased (20.8%, 27.9%, and 43.8%, p < 0.05). The percentages of complicated AA in Group 2 and Group 3 were statistically higher than in Group 1 (39% and 55% vs. 31%, p < 0.05). Waiting time for operation increased to five hours during the major wave. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 98-99% of AA patients during the pandemic, with an early postoperative complication rate of 5-9% and a mortality rate of 0.2-1%. Conclusions Although the percentages of hospital admission after 24 hours and complicated AA increased, laparoscopic appendectomy was still feasible and effective and should be maintained as the standard management for AA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai V Nguyen
- Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
| | - Loc H Tran
- Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
| | - Tuan H Ly
- Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
| | - Quang T Pham
- Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, VNM
| | - Vu Q Pham
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
| | - Ha N Tran
- Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
| | - Loc T Trinh
- Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
| | - Thien T Dinh
- Department of General Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
| | - Dinh T Pham
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
| | - Tuong Anh Mai Phan
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, VNM
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Xu H, Yang S, Xing J, Wang Y, Sun W, Rong L, Liu H. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of antibiotic treatment and appendectomy for acute uncomplicated appendicitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Surg 2023; 23:208. [PMID: 37488583 PMCID: PMC10367319 DOI: 10.1186/s12893-023-02108-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of antibiotic treatment and appendectomy for acute uncomplicated appendicitis. METHODS We searched the randomized controlled studies (RCTs) comparing appendectomy with antibiotic treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis in the electronic database including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang. The primary outcomes included complication-free treatment success at 1 year, complications, surgical complications, and the complicated appendicitis rates. Secondary outcomes included negative appendicitis, length of hospital stay, the quality of life at 1 month, and the impact of an appendicolith on antibiotic therapy. RESULTS Twelve randomized controlled studies were included. Compared with surgery group, the antibiotic group decreased the complication-free treatment success at 1 year (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.73-0.91; z = 3.65; p = 0.000). Statistically significance was existed between antibiotic group and surgical group with both surgical types(open and laparoscopic) (RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.31-0.58; z = 5.36; p = 0.000), while no between the antibiotic treatment and laparoscopic surgery (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.41-1.24; z = 1.19; p = 0.236). There was no statistically significant differences between two groups of surgical complications (RR 1.38; 95% CI 0.70-2.73; z = 0.93; p = 0.353), the complicated appendicitis rate (RR 0.71; 95% CI 0.36-1.42; z = 0.96; p = 0.338), negative appendectomy rate (RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.69-1.79; z = 0.43; p = 0.670), duration of hospital stay (SMD 0.08; 95%CI -0.11-0.27; z = 0.80; p = 0.422), and quality of life at 1 month (SMD 0.09; 95%CI -0.03-0.20; z = 1.53; p = 0.127). However, in the antibiotic treatment group, appendicolith rates were statistically higher in those whose symptoms did not improve (RR 2.94; 95% CI 1.28-6.74; z = 2.55; p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS Although the cure rate of antibiotics is lower than surgery, antibiotic treatment is still a reasonable option for patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis who do not want surgery without having to worry about complications or complicating the original illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Xu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Shaohui Yang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jiankun Xing
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Weiqiang Sun
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lingyan Rong
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
| | - Huihui Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wendeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Orthopedics and Traumatology of Shandong Province, No.1 Fengshan Road, Wendeng District, Weihai City, 264400, Shandong Province, China
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Kim H, Kang BM. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Ann Surg Treat Res 2023; 104:274-280. [PMID: 37179695 PMCID: PMC10172030 DOI: 10.4174/astr.2023.104.5.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the time interval from symptom onset to surgery and on the operative outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy for patients with acute appendicitis. Methods Between October 2018 and July 2021, laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 502 patients with acute appendicitis admitted to Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital in Chuncheon, Korea. We compared demographic data, serum levels of inflammatory markers, time to event of appendicitis, and operative outcomes between the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 pandemic groups. Results Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 271 patients in the pre-COVID-19 group and in 231 patients in the post-COVID-19 group. There were no differences in baseline characteristics, serum inflammatory marker levels, or the proportions of complicated appendicitis between the groups (25.1%, pre-COVID-19 vs. 31.6%, post-COVID-19; P = 0.106). The time intervals between symptom onset and hospital arrival (24.42 hours vs. 23.59 hours, P = 0.743) and between hospital arrival and the start of surgery (10.12 hours vs. 9.04 hours, P = 0.246) did not increase post-COVID-19. The overall 30-day postoperative complication rate did not differ significantly between the groups (9.6% vs. 10.8%, P = 0.650), and the severity of 30-day postoperative complications was also similar in both groups (P = 0.447). Conclusion This study demonstrates that hospitalization and surgeries were not delayed in patients with acute appendicitis and that the operative outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy did not worsen despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanbaro Kim
- Department of Surgery, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Byung Mo Kang
- Department of Surgery, Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
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The role of imaging in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study. Updates Surg 2023; 75:205-208. [PMID: 36422811 PMCID: PMC9686250 DOI: 10.1007/s13304-022-01426-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common general surgical emergencies worldwide; however, its diagnosis remains challenging, with a high proportion of negative appendicectomies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefit of routine use of pre-operative imaging for the evaluation of suspected appendicitis. This retrospective cohort study included all cases of appendicectomies performed for suspected acute appendicitis during the first and second peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, between March 2020 and February 2021. The control group included all cases of appendicectomies performed for suspected acute appendicitis in the previous 12 months (March 2019-February 2020). One hundred and four patients underwent appendicectomy in the study group, compared to 209 in the control group, with similar gender distribution but a significantly higher median age in the study group (33 vs. 28, p = 0.001). The two groups had similar rates of perforation and similar median white cell count (WCC) and CRP. Imaging was used in 80.77% of the patients in the study group, compared to 61.72% in the control group (p = 0.001), with 55.77% of patients in the study group undergoing CT scans. Despite this, the negative appendicectomy rate (NAR) in the two groups did not differ significantly (11.54% vs. 15.79%, p = 0.320). The increase in the use of imaging for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic did not lead to a significantly lower negative appendicectomy rate. Registration: The study was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05205681).
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Kariya A, Krutsri C, Singhatas P, Sumritpradit P, Thampongsa T, Lertsitthichai P, Phoprom N. Incidence of complicated appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SURGERY OPEN 2022; 45:100512. [PMID: 35845315 PMCID: PMC9273516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijso.2022.100512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abduljubbar Kariya
- Department of Surgery, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chonlada Krutsri
- Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pongsasit Singhatas
- Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Preeda Sumritpradit
- Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Tharin Thampongsa
- Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Napaphat Phoprom
- Surgical Research Unit, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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de Almeida Leite RM, Seo DJ, Gomez-Eslava B, Hossain S, Lesegretain A, de Souza AV, Bay CP, Zilberstein B, Marchi E, Machado RB, Barchi LC, Ricciardi R. Nonoperative vs Operative Management of Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Surg 2022; 157:828-834. [PMID: 35895073 PMCID: PMC9330355 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.2937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Importance Appendectomy remains the standard of care for uncomplicated acute appendicitis despite several randomized clinical trials pointing to the safety and efficacy of nonoperative management of this disease. A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials may contribute to the body of evidence and help surgeons select which patients may benefit from surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of nonoperative management vs appendectomy for acute uncomplicated appendicitis. Data Sources A systematic review was conducted using indexed sources (Embase and PubMed) to search for published randomized clinical trials in English comparing nonoperative management with appendectomy in adult patients presenting with uncomplicated acute appendicitis. To increase sensitivity, no limits were set for outcomes reported, sex, or year of publication. All nonrandomized or quasi-randomized trials were excluded, and validated primers were used. Study Selection Among 1504 studies imported for screening, 805 were duplicates, and 595 were excluded for irrelevancy. A further 96 were excluded after full-text review, mainly owing to wrong study design or inclusion of pediatric populations. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the meta-analysis. Data Extraction and Synthesis Meta-extraction was conducted with independent extraction by multiple reviewers using the Covidence platform for systematic reviews and in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Data were pooled by a random-effects model. Main Outcomes and Measures Treatment success and major adverse effects at 30 days' follow-up. Results The main outcome (treatment success proportion at 30 days of follow-up) was not significantly different in the operative and nonoperative management cohorts (risk ratio [RR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.66-1.11). Likewise, the percentage of major adverse effects was similar in both cohorts (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.29-1.79). However, in the nonoperative management group, length of stay was significantly longer (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.26-1.70), and a median cumulative incidence of 18% of recurrent appendicitis was observed. Conclusions and Relevance These results point to the general safety and efficacy of nonoperative management of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. However, this strategy may be associated with an increase in duration of hospital stay and a higher rate of recurrent appendicitis. This meta-analysis may help inform decision-making in nonoperative management of uncomplicated acute appendicitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Moises de Almeida Leite
- Colon and Rectal Surgery Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.,Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Gastromed Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dong Joo Seo
- Colon and Rectal Surgery Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | | | - Sigma Hossain
- Colon and Rectal Surgery Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Arnaud Lesegretain
- Colon and Rectal Surgery Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | | | - Camden Phillip Bay
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bruno Zilberstein
- Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Gastromed Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Digestive Surgery Division, Department of Gastroenterology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Evaldo Marchi
- Department of General Surgery, Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí, Jundiaí, Brazil
| | | | - Leandro Cardoso Barchi
- Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Gastromed Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rocco Ricciardi
- Section of Colon & Rectal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
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Tamirian R, Klein M, Chui P, Park J, Frangos S, Shah P, Malino CM. Acute Appendicitis During The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis From The US Epicenter. Am Surg 2022:31348221103649. [PMID: 35599614 PMCID: PMC9124948 DOI: 10.1177/00031348221103649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical emergency, with a relatively stable yearly incidence. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, as New York City (NYC) emerged as the US epicenter, hospitals saw a marked reduction in patients presenting with non-COVID-related diseases. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of the pandemic on the incidence, presentation, and management of AA. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients with AA who presented to two academic medical centers during the NYC COVID peak (March 22nd-May 31st, 2020) was performed. This group was compared to a control cohort presenting during the same period in 2019. Primary outcomes included the incidence of AA, complicated disease, and management. Secondary outcomes included duration of symptoms, hospital length of stay, and complication rates. Statistical analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests. Results A 49.1% reduction in the incidence of AA was seen between 2019 (n = 114) and 2020 (n = 58). Median duration of symptoms doubled from 1 day in 2019 to 2 days in 2020 (P < .02). Proportionally, the incidence of complicated appendicitis rose from 19.3% to 41.4% (P < .005). 32.4% of patients with uncomplicated AA underwent non-operative management in 2020, compared to 12% in 2019 (P < .02). Hospital length of stay and complication rates were similar between years. Discussion Significantly fewer AA patients presented during the initial phase of the pandemic. Patients presented later, which may have contributed to a higher proportion of complicated disease. Surgeons were also more likely to treat uncomplicated AA nonoperatively than they were prior. Further research is needed to understand the long-term consequences of these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Tamirian
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Richard Tamirian, Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 334 E. 26th Street New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Michael Klein
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, New York City Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patricia Chui
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, New York City Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia Park
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, New York City Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Spiros Frangos
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, New York City Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paresh Shah
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cris M.K. Malino
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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11
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Montali F, Costi R, Virgilio E, Presicci C, Sartorio C, Pedrazzini M. Omental torsion at the time of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: a case report of conservative management with a review of the pertinent literature. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2022; 93:e2022123. [PMID: 35421073 PMCID: PMC10510973 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93is1.11903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM In middle-aged men, omental torsion (OT) can be a cause of acute abdomen.The right side of the omentum is longer, heavier and more mobile than the left one and, as a consequence, it can twist more easily on its vascular axis. Consequently, OT localization in the lower right quadrant is more frequent, and therefore it can mimic acute appendicitis clinical onset.In most cases, OT is defined as "primary" in the absence of any other underlying pathologies, or, rarely, "secondary", when caused by other intra-abdominal diseases such as inguinal hernia, tumors, cysts or post-surgical scarring. To date, clinical diagnosis of OT still remains a challenging one in a preoperative setting and most cases are diagnosed intraoperatively. If diagnosis is correctly achieved preoperatively by adequate imaging examinations, most patients presenting with OT do not undergo surgery anymore. Such considerations gain importance at the time of COVID 19 pandemic, where a conservative management and an early discharge may be preferred owing to in-hospital morbidity after abdominal surgery whenever surgery may be avoided. METHODS AND RESULTS We present a case of an OT successfully treated in a non-operative manner during COVID-19 outbreak in Norhern Italy and offer a review of the literature that supports such a clinical attitude. Conclusions: OT preoperative diagnosis is challenging and is usually achieved by abdominal CT-scan. The suggested OT initial management is conservative, leaving a surgical approach, preferably by laparoscopy, for the 15% of cases not improving with a non-surgical approach.
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12
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Wolf S, Schrempf M, Vlasenko D, Schoeler C, Erckmann F, von Parpart P, Paschwitz R, Anthuber M, Sommer F. Acute Appendicitis During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Changes in Incidence and Clinical Presentation but not in Patients' Outcome. Int J Qual Health Care 2022; 34:6524257. [PMID: 35137114 PMCID: PMC8903373 DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing severe issue. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence, severity and treatment of acute appendicitis (AA) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted between January 2019 and April 2020 in one high-volume center. A comparison was performed between two groups (group A: patients admitted with AA before the COVID-19 pandemic; group B: patients admitted with AA at the beginning of the pandemic) in terms of the incidence of AA and clinical and pathological outcomes. The incidence of AA was also analyzed in six surrounding peripheral hospitals. RESULTS A total of 94 patients were identified, 54 in group A and 40 in group B (57% vs. 43%). Demographic data was comparable between groups. AA in group B showed a significant higher rate of histological advanced cases (10 (18.5%) group A vs. 20 (50%) group B, p=0.001) and the need for postoperative antibiotic treatment (6 (11.1%) group A vs. 11 (27.5%) group B, p=0.045). During the pandemic, a higher percentage of patients was treated at peripheral hospitals (group A: 54/111 vs. 40/126). CONCLUSION During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic there was a significant decrease of patients with AA in a high-volume center, which showed more advanced disease of AA. This significant decrease in the high-volume center correlates with an increase in patients with AA in peripheral hospitals and represents a change in patient flow during the onset of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Wolf
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Schrempf
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Dmytro Vlasenko
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Claus Schoeler
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Wertach Clinic, Schwabmuenchen, Germany
| | - Frank Erckmann
- Department of General, Visceral and Minimal-invasive Surgery, Donau-Ries-Clinics, Donauwoerth, Germany
| | - Patrick von Parpart
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Friedberg and Aichach Hospital, Friedberg, Germany
| | - Rieke Paschwitz
- Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, St. Elisabeth Hospital Dillingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Anthuber
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Florian Sommer
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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Sener Okur D, Memetoglu ME, Edirne Y. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions on pediatric appendicitis in Turkey: A single-center experience. Pediatr Int 2022; 64:e15272. [PMID: 36074063 PMCID: PMC9349503 DOI: 10.1111/ped.15272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study we investigated how the incidence and course of acute appendicitis (AA) changed in children during the pandemic. METHODS Children diagnosed with AA during the 1-year pandemic period after the first COVID-19 case in Turkey and the previous 1 year were included in the study. Children were divided into two groups: those hospitalized during the pandemic (group A) and those hospitalized in the year before the pandemic (group B). Furthermore, we compared the findings obtained for COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative children in the whole study group and within group A. RESULTS A significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of gender, the rate of vomiting and the number of days of vomiting. Complicated AA was more frequent in group B than in group A. In addition, the hospital stay was significantly longer, the mean number of days with fever was significantly higher, and mean body temperature was significantly higher in COVID-19-positive patients in the whole study group and within group A. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to most studies in the literature, in the present study the patients in the pre-pandemic period were admitted to hospital later, and this may have been associated with the higher frequency of complicated AA in these patients. During the pandemic, however, the arrangements and warnings of health authorities might have reduced the anxiety and the hesitancy of families to go to the hospital, and hence this may have been associated with the lower rate of complicated AA in this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dicle Sener Okur
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, State Hospital of Denizli, Denizli, Turkey
| | | | - Yesim Edirne
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, State Hospital of Denizli, Denizli, Turkey
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14
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Huijgen D, de Wijkerslooth EML, Janssen JC, Beverdam FH, Boerma EJG, Dekker JWT, Kitonga S, van Rossem CC, Schreurs WH, Toorenvliet BR, Vermaas M, Wijnhoven BPL, van den Boom AL. Multicenter cohort study on the presentation and treatment of acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Colorectal Dis 2022; 37:1087-1095. [PMID: 35415811 PMCID: PMC9005243 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-022-04137-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Current studies have demonstrated conflicting results regarding surgical care for acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess trends in diagnosis as well as treatment of acute appendicitis in the Netherlands during the first and second COVID-19 infection wave. METHODS All consecutive patients that had an appendectomy for acute appendicitis in nine hospitals from January 2019 to December 2020 were included. The primary outcome was the number of appendectomies for acute appendicitis. Secondary outcomes included time between onset of symptoms and hospital admission, proportion of complex appendicitis, postoperative length of stay and postoperative infectious complications. Outcomes were compared between the pre-COVID group and COVID group. RESULTS A total of 4401 patients were included. The mean weekly rate of appendectomies during the COVID period was 44.0, compared to 40.9 in the pre-COVID period. The proportion of patients with complex appendicitis and mean postoperative length of stay in days were similar in the pre-COVID and COVID group (respectively 35.5% vs 36.8%, p = 0.36 and 2.0 ± 2.2 vs 2.0 ± 2.6, p = 0.93). There were no differences in postoperative infectious complications. A computed tomography scan was used more frequently as a diagnostic tool after the onset of COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID (13.8% vs 9.8%, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION No differences were observed in number of appendectomies, proportion of complex appendicitis, postoperative length of stay or postoperative infectious complications before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A CT scan was used more frequently during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demi Huijgen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC – University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Josephine C. Janssen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC – University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Sophia Kitonga
- Department of Surgery, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Maarten Vermaas
- Department of Surgery, IJsselland Hospital, Capelle Aan Den IJssel, The Netherlands
| | - Bas P. L. Wijnhoven
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC – University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anne Loes van den Boom
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC – University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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15
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Reismann M. A concise pathophysiological model of acute appendicitis against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:908524. [PMID: 36313868 PMCID: PMC9606662 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.908524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most common clinical pictures has become the focus of attention during the COVID-19 pandemic: acute appendicitis with the associated diagnostics and therapy. The aim of the work is to show inconsistencies with regard to epidemiology, pathophysiology and therapy against the background of the pandemic with special attention to the conditions for children and to explain the pathophysiological processes that are likely to underlie the disease based on scientifically plausible models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Reismann
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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16
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Impact of COVID-19 on the incidence of CT-diagnosed appendicitis and its complications in the UK and Sweden. Int J Colorectal Dis 2022; 37:1375-1383. [PMID: 35575916 PMCID: PMC9108134 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-022-04181-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
AIM To compare the number of appendicitis cases and its complications, during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden and the UK and the corresponding time period in 2019. METHOD Reports of emergency abdominopelvic CT performed at 56 Swedish hospitals and 38 British hospitals between April and July 2020 and a corresponding control cohort from 2019 were reviewed. Two radiologists and two surgeons blinded to the date of cohorts analyzed all reports for diagnosis of appendicitis, perforation, and abscess. A random selection of cases was chosen for the measurement of inter-rater agreement. RESULT Both in Sweden (6111) and the UK (5591) fewer, abdominopelvic CT scans were done in 2020 compared to 2019 (6433 and 7223, respectively); p < 0.001. In the UK, the number of appendicitis was 36% lower in April-June 2020 compared to 2019 but not in Sweden. Among the appendicitis cases, there was a higher number of perforations and abscesses in 2020, in Sweden. In the UK, the number of perforations and abscesses were initially lower (April-June 2020) but increased in July 2020. There was a substantial inter-rater agreement for the diagnosis of perforations and abscess formations (K = 0.64 and 0.77). CONCLUSION In Sweden, the number of appendicitis was not different between 2019 and 2020; however, there was an increase of complications. In the UK, there was a significant decrease of cases in 2020. The prevalence of complications was lower initially but increased in July. These findings suggest variability in delay in diagnosis of appendicitis depending on the country and time frame studied.
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El Nakeeb A, Emile SH, AbdelMawla A, Attia M, Alzahrani M, ElGamdi A, Nouh AE, Alshahrani A, AlAreef R, Kayed T, Hamza HM, AlMalki A, Rayzah F, Alsharif M, Alsharif F, Mohammed MM. Presentation and outcomes of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned from the Middle East-a multicentre prospective cohort study. Int J Colorectal Dis 2022; 37:777-789. [PMID: 35152340 PMCID: PMC8853311 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-022-04108-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a striking impact on healthcare services in the world. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation management and outcomes of acute appendicitis (AA) in different centers in the Middle East. METHODS This multicenter cohort study compared the presentation and outcomes of patients with AA who presented during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to patients who presented before the onset of the pandemic. Demographic data, clinical presentation, management strategy, and outcomes were prospectively collected and compared. RESULTS Seven hundred seventy-one patients presented with AA during the COVID pandemic versus 1174 in the pre-COVID period. Delayed and complex presentation of AA was significantly more observed during the pandemic period. Seventy-six percent of patients underwent CT scanning to confirm the diagnosis of AA during the pandemic period, compared to 62.7% in the pre-COVID period. Non-operative management (NOM) was more frequently employed in the pandemic period. Postoperative complications were higher amid the pandemic as compared to before its onset. Reoperation and readmission rates were significantly higher in the COVID period, whereas the negative appendicectomy rate was significantly lower in the pandemic period (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION During the COVID-19 pandemic, a remarkable decrease in the number of patients with AA was seen along with a higher incidence of complex AA, greater use of CT scanning, and more application of NOM. The rates of postoperative complications, reoperation, and readmission were significantly higher during the COVID period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mohamed Alzahrani
- Khamis Mushait General Hospital, Aseer region, Khamis Mushait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ayman ElGamdi
- Khamis Mushait General Hospital, Aseer region, Khamis Mushait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abd elwahab Nouh
- Khamis Mushait General Hospital, Aseer region, Khamis Mushait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Alshahrani
- Khamis Mushait General Hospital, Aseer region, Khamis Mushait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyadh AlAreef
- Khamis Mushait General Hospital, Aseer region, Khamis Mushait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Ahmad AlMalki
- Aseer Central Hospital, Aseer region, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Fares Rayzah
- Aseer Central Hospital, Aseer region, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Motaz Alsharif
- Aseer Central Hospital, Aseer region, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Fares Alsharif
- Aseer Central Hospital, Aseer region, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Answer to letter: The decrease of non-complicated acute appendicitis and the negative appendectomy rate during pandemic. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2021; 47:1371-1372. [PMID: 34173854 DOI: 10.1007/s00068-021-01731-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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The decrease of non-complicated acute appendicitis and the negative appendectomy rate during pandemic. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2021; 47:1369. [PMID: 34137909 PMCID: PMC8210503 DOI: 10.1007/s00068-021-01730-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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