Ann Surg Treat Res.  2023 May;104(5):274-280. 10.4174/astr.2023.104.5.274.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis

• Kim H
• Kang BM

• KMID: 2542234
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2023.104.5.274

Abstract

Purpose
This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the time interval from symptom onset to surgery and on the operative outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy for patients with acute appendicitis.
Methods
Between October 2018 and July 2021, laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 502 patients with acute appendicitis admitted to Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital in Chuncheon, Korea. We compared demographic data, serum levels of inflammatory markers, time to event of appendicitis, and operative outcomes between the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 pandemic groups.
Results
Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 271 patients in the pre-COVID-19 group and in 231 patients in the post-COVID-19 group. There were no differences in baseline characteristics, serum inflammatory marker levels, or the proportions of complicated appendicitis between the groups (25.1%, pre-COVID-19 vs. 31.6%, post-COVID-19; P = 0.106). The time intervals between symptom onset and hospital arrival (24.42 hours vs. 23.59 hours, P = 0.743) and between hospital arrival and the start of surgery (10.12 hours vs. 9.04 hours, P = 0.246) did not increase post-COVID-19. The overall 30-day postoperative complication rate did not differ significantly between the groups (9.6% vs. 10.8%, P = 0.650), and the severity of 30-day postoperative complications was also similar in both groups (P = 0.447).
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that hospitalization and surgeries were not delayed in patients with acute appendicitis and that the operative outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy did not worsen despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keyword

Appendicitis; Appendectomy; COVID-19; Laparoscopy

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Study flow. OPD, outpatient department; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.

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  Fig. 2 Number of laparoscopic appendectomies performed per month.

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