[Mortality in acute appendicitis in Russia].

Objective: To analyze the causes of mortality in patients with acute appendicitis in Russia.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively studied mortality in patients with acute appendicitis in the Russian Federation in 2020. We surveyed the hospitals with mortality reported in the electronic database of annual reports to the chief surgeon of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

Results: There were 259 deaths among 150.393 patients with acute appendicitis aged ≥18 years (in-hospital mortality 0.17%). We obtained data about 95.8% (=248) of lethal cases including 86.3% (=214) complicated and 13.7% (=34) uncomplicated forms of disease. Two patients died without surgery (0.8%). Among the deceased, 58.2% (=145) were men and 41.8% (=103) were women. Mean patient age was 66.2 years [0.95% CI 64.2-68.1]. The main cause of death in complicated appendicitis was late presentation (after 4.9 days [0.95% CI 4.3-5.4]) that resulted peritonitis and sepsis in 71.5% (=153) of patients. Cardiovascular diseases were noted in 23.4% (=50) of cases. A new coronavirus infection was detected in 7.0% (=15) of patients. However, COVID-19 as a direct cause of death was recognized in 2.8% (=6) of cases. Other reasons accounted for 2.3% (=5). In uncomplicated appendicitis, cardiovascular diseases were the main cause of mortality (73.5%, =25). Peritonitis and sepsis were found in 11.8% (=4) of cases, COVID-19 - in 5.9% (=2). Other causes accounted for 8.8% (=3). Diagnostic, tactical, technical problems and their combination were revealed in 54.4% of lethal outcomes.

Conclusion: Mortality from acute appendicitis in the Russian Federation is low, comparable with international data, and mainly associated with delayed treatment and complicated course of disease. However, the impact of diagnostic, tactical and technical errors on the outcome of acute appendicitis is significant.