APPENDECTOMY IN THE TIMES OF COVID-19: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO GROUPS OF PATIENTS BETWEEN SIMILAR PERIODS OF TIME - 2019 VS 2020

C. Ungureanu; R. Mirică; R.  Iosifescu; M.  Zamfir; M.  Mardare; N.  Iordache; O. Ginghină

doi:10.33695/rojes.v2i1.18

C. Ungureanu Saint John Emergency Hospital, General Surgery Department, Bucharest, Romania
R. Mirică Saint John Emergency Hospital, General Surgery Department, Bucharest, Romania
R. Iosifescu Saint John Emergency Hospital, General Surgery Department, Bucharest, Romania
M. Zamfir Saint John Emergency Hospital, General Surgery Department, Bucharest, Romania
M. Mardare Saint John Emergency Hospital, General Surgery Department, Bucharest, Romania
N. Iordache Saint John Emergency Hospital, General Surgery Department, Bucharest, Romania
O. Ginghină Saint John Emergency Hospital, General Surgery Department, Bucharest, Romania

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33695/rojes.v2i1.18

Keywords: appendectomy, covid-19, delay of surgery, appendicitis

Abstract

Acute pathology of the cecal appendix - appendicitis, is a condition that does not take into account the pandemic period. The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze the relationship of care for two groups of patients who underwent appendectomy in COVID-19 period and one year before, same period of time, in emergency hospital service. We performed a retrospective analysis on the patients admitted in our surgery center by comparing two groups for each period analysed: group A, for the period March-May 2019 and group B for the period March-May 2020 (corresponding to COVID-19 pandemic). We compared the groups analysing features that prove the change in age, incidence, grade (severity) of appendicitis, delay of surgery, length of surgery, postoperative complications and hospitalization time. CT scan was made for each patient. In the group B, PCR COVID-19 testing was made (all patients were negative for COVID-19). Our study consisted of 52 patients, group A-32 patients (61.53%) and group B-22 patients (38.47%). The Covid-19 pandemic influenced the incidence of appendicitis and we noted a delayed presentation which led to more complicated appendicitis than same period of the previous year. The impact also was noted on length of surgery, due to use of PPE (personal protective equipment) and also modified anatomy of the region related to inflammation. The severity of appendicitis was higher in the COVID-19 period when compared to 2019 similar period of time. Further research is required to draw more conclusions on this period.

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