Acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 lockdown: never waste a crisis!
Mauro Podda, Francesco Pata, Gianluca Pellino, Benedetto Ielpo, Salomone Di Saverio
Abstract
1. Whilst the number of Covid-19 cases increases, fewer patients present with appendicitis to the emergency department, and those who do, present with more advanced disease. 2. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis of a pre-hospital selection, with high rates of successful resolution of uncomplicated appendicitis following patients self-medication with antibiotics at home. 3. Patients admitted with suspected appendicitis during the pandemic are more likely to undergo preoperative imaging, which possibly explains the fall in negative appendectomy rate, especially in the UK.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineAppendicitisCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)PandemicAcute appendicitis2019-20 coronavirus outbreakEmergency departmentSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)General surgeryEmergency medicineIntensive care medicineSurgeryDiseaseInternal medicineInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakVirologyPsychiatryAppendicitis Diagnosis and ManagementCOVID-19 and healthcare impactsIntraperitoneal and Appendiceal Malignancies