Emergency appendicectomy during COVID-19 pandemic – A single UK centre experience

• Authors: Hrishikesh Salgaonkar , Adebimpe Aladeojebi , David Murcott , Martin Nnaji , Achilleas Tsiamis , Chandra VN Cheruvu

Abstracts

EN

Introduction: In December 2019 following an outbreak of Novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, it spread rapidly overwhelming the healthcare systems globally. With little knowledge of COVID-19 virus, very few published reports on surgical outcomes; hospitals stopped elective surgery, whilst emergency surgery was offered only after exhausting all conservative treatment modalities. Aim: This study presents our experience of outcomes of emergency appendectomies performed during the pandemic.Methods: Prospectively we collected data on 132 patients in peak pandemic period from 1st March to 5th June 2020 and data compared with 206 patients operated in similar period in 2019. Patient demographics, presenting symptoms, pre-operative events, investigations, surgical management, postoperative outcomes and complications were analysed. Results: Demographics and ASA grades of both cohorts were comparable. In study cohort 84.4% and 96.7% in control cohort had laparoscopic appendicectomy. Whilst the study cohort had 13.6% primary open operations, control cohort had 5.3%. Mean length of stay and early post-operative complications (<30 days) were similar in both cohorts apart from surgical site infections (p = 0.02) and one mortality in study cohort. Conclusion: In these overwhelming pandemic times, although conservative treatment of acute appendicitis is an option, a proportion of patients will need surgery. Our study shows that with careful planning and strict theatre protocols, emergency appendicectomy can be safely offered with minimal risk of spreading COVID-19 infection. These observations warrant further prospective randomised studies.

Keywords

EN

appendicectomy; COVID-19; Coronavirus; emergency surgery; laparoscopy

• Publisher: Index Copernicus International
• Journal: Polish Journal of Surgery
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 93
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 33-39

Dates

published

2021

Contributors

author

Hrishikesh Salgaonkar

author

Adebimpe Aladeojebi

author

David Murcott

author

Martin Nnaji

author

Achilleas Tsiamis

author

Chandra VN Cheruvu

Identifiers

Biblioteka Nauki

1391307