Approach to Acute Appendicitis during Covid-19 Outbreak: One Year Experience of a Single Centre

Objective: After announcement of Covid-19 pandemic, elective surgeries were postponed, and all hospitals were reserved primarily for Covid-19 patients. Aim of this study is to evaluate the change in treatment trends of acute appendicitis during Covid-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods: For this retrospective study patients diagnosed as acute appendicitis during the pandemic period and one year before the pandemic were evaluated. Diagnostic methods and treatment modalities were compared.

Results: During pandemic period number of cases diagnosed as acute appendicitis did not change with similar rates of complicated cases. During pandemic period 16.1% of the patients had medical treatment. During the one-year period before Covid-19 pandemic rate of patients having medical treatment was found as 7.2%.

Conclusion: During the pandemic period use of medical treatment for acute appendicitis significantly increased.