| Autor: |
Dorothy B Johnston, Helen G Coleman, David Colvin, Suzanne Lawther, Maurice B Loughrey |
| Jazyk: |
angličtina |
| Rok vydání: |
2024 |
| Předmět: |
|
| Zdroj: |
PLoS ONE, Vol 19, Iss 4, p e0300357 (2024) |
| Druh dokumentu: |
article |
| ISSN: |
1932-6203 |
| DOI: |
10.1371/journal.pone.0300357&type=printable |
| Popis: |
BackgroundWe investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trends of presentation, management and pathology findings in patients who underwent an appendicectomy for suspected acute appendicitis.MethodThe retrospective study reviewed patients (n = 939 adults and n = 329 children) who had an appendicectomy performed for suspected acute appendicitis and histopathology assessment in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland. Pre-COVID-19 (March 2019 to February 2020) and COVID-19 Year 1 (March 2020 to February 2021) data were compared. Chi-squared tests were applied to compare timeframes.Results513 adult appendicectomies were performed in the immediate year pre-COVID-19, compared to 426 in COVID-19 Year 1, representing a 17% reduction. No such reduction was seen within the paediatric population, likely related to a change in regional paediatric referral criteria during the pandemic. When comparing COVID-19 Year 1 with pre-pandemic, fewer patients presented with ConclusionYear 1 of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with delayed presentation of acute appendicitis in adults and children. In adults, an overall reduction in appendicectomy operations, increased use of pre-operative diagnostic imaging, and fewer specimens showing simple acute appendicitis or non-diagnostic features, collectively support appropriate restriction of surgery for those patients with a more certain acute appendicitis diagnosis. |
| Databáze: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
| Externí odkaz: |
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