Comparison of Clinical, Pathological, and Procedural Characteristics of Adult and Pediatric Acute Appendicitis before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Znanstveni rad - Izvorni znanstveni rad

• Autor: Goran Augustin
• Autor: Jurica Žedelj
• Autor: Karmen Jeričević
• Autor: Nora Knez
• Autorova ustanova: Sveučilište u Zagrebu; Medicinski fakultet; (KATEDRA ZA KIRURGIJU)
• Znanstveno / umjetničko područje, polje i grana: BIOMEDICINA I ZDRAVSTVO; Kliničke medicinske znanosti; Kirurgija

Sažetak (engleski)

Background: This study aims to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical, pathological, and surgical characteristics of acute appendicitis (AA) at the University Hospital Centre (UHC) Zagreb.
Methods: This retrospective study analyzed demographic, clinical, and surgical data from consecutive AA patients. Data were collected from an electronic database for two periods: 1 January to 31 December 2019 (pre-COVID-19), and 11 March 2020, to 11 March 2021 (COVID-19 pandemic).
Results: During the two study periods, 855 appendectomies were performed, 427 in the pre-pandemic, and 428 during the pandemic. Demographic data were comparable between groups. There was statistically no significant difference in the type of appendectomy (p = 0.33) and the median hospital length of stay (3; (2–5) days, p = 0.08). There was an increase in the conversion rate during the pandemic period (4.2% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.03). The negative appendectomy rate and the incidence of perforated AA did not differ significantly (p = 0.34 for both).
Conclusions: We did not observe a significant increase in the rate of AA complications during the COVID-19 pandemic at the UHC Zagreb. This may be attributed to two factors: (1) AA was diagnosed and treated as an emergency, which remained available during the pandemic, and (2) diagnostic and therapeutic protocols remained unaltered. We recommend a laparoscopic approach even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Ključne riječi (engleski): COVID-19 pandemic; acute abdomen; acute appendicitis; appendectomy
• Jezik: engleski
• Vrsta publikacije: Znanstveni rad - Izvorni znanstveni rad
• Status objave: Objavljen
• Vrsta recenzije: Recenziran
• Verzija publikacije: Objavljena verzija rada (izdavačev PDF)
• Naslov časopisa: Children
• Brojčani podaci: vol. 11, br. 6, 641
• e-ISSN: 2227-9067
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/children11060641
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:872637
• Datum objave publikacije: 2024-05-25
• URL dokumenta: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/11/6/641
• Vrsta resursa: Tekst
• Prava pristupa: Otvoreni pristup
• Datum i vrijeme pohrane: 2024-12-18 11:42:37