RETROSPECTIVE CLINICAL STUDY OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN COVID-19 PANDEMIC : – A STUDY OF 100 CASES

BACKGROUND - Acute appendicitis is having around 7% probability of occurrence over one’s life time . Acute appendicitis is a common gastro-intenstinal disease affecting 5.7–57 per 1lakh individual each year with a highest incidence in children and adolescents. Acute appendicitis is the most common reason for emergency abdominal surgery and must be distinguished from other causes of abdominal pain. AIM AND OBJECTIVE - To compare the clinical presentation, grade of presentation and post-operative complication of acute appendicitis before (July 2019- February 2020) and during ( March 2020 – October2020) the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD - Based on clinical and radiological features, cases divided into 2-groups [ pre-pandemic group( group-1) i.e. having 65 cases, and pandemic group (group-2) i.e. having 35 cases] and 5- grades [Grade-1 (Probable appendicitis), Grade-2 (Appendicitis), Grade-3 (Appendicular perforation), Grade-4 (Appendicular abscess), Grade-5 (Complicated appendicitis / appendicular mass). RESULTS- Out of 100 cases enrolled, 65 and 35 cases belongs to pre-pandemic period and pandemic period respectively. Higher grades, post-operative complications were more common in pandemic period. CONCLUSION - This pandemic period affects diagnosis, treatment protocol, and increases post-operative complications, which may be due to delayed presentation in casualty department resulting delayed diagnosis and advanced stage of the disease .