AI Article Synopsis

  • Appendicitis cases in pediatric patients decreased by 25% during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to the previous year, but the average time to seek help remained consistent.
  • The incidence of peritonitis and complications was similar across both periods, suggesting that the severity of appendicitis did not significantly change despite fewer cases.
  • A shift from laparoscopic to open surgery was observed during the pandemic to minimize the risk of virus transmission, reflecting changes in management strategies rather than delays in diagnosis.

Article Abstract

Introduction: Appendicitis is the leading cause of surgical acute abdomen in pediatrics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, management strategies were reassessed and the number of visits to the emergency department dropped down, which may be associated with delayed diagnoses and complications. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of the pandemic on children with acute appendicitis.

Methods: Analytical, retrospective, comparative study of pediatric patients with acute appendicitis in the 5 months of COVID-19 lockdown versus the same period in the previous year. Incidence, clinical data, stage, surgical approach, and complications were analyzed.

Results: The total number of appendicitis cases went down by 25% (n = 67 versus n = 50 in 2020). The mean time to consultation was 24 hours in both periods (p = 0.989). The incidence of peritonitis was 44% (n = 22) versus 37% (n = 22) (p = 0.22) in 2019. No differences were observed in terms of appendicitis stage based on surgery reports. In 2019, all surgeries were laparoscopic; while in 2020, only 42% (n = 21). The incidence of complications was 6% versus 7.5% in the previous period (p = 0.75). One patient was COVID-19 positive.

Conclusion: Although in our population the number of appendicitis cases dropped down, consultation was not delayed. The greater impact was associated with the reformulation of management strategies, in which the laparoscopic approach is avoided to reduce virus transmission.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.5546/aap.2021.eng.224DOI Listing

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