Effect of the pandemic on the presentation and management of patients with acute appendicitis at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abulfaraj, Moaz; Akbar, Jumana; Maghrabi, Ashraf A; Mozahim, Sara; Alzahrani, Reema; Alqahtani, Lamiaa; Alahmadi, Shahad; Rahbini, Haneen; Alalwani, Waad; Jamal, Wisam; Iskanderani, Omar

doi:10.21608/EJSUR.2024.277284.1029

Effect of the pandemic on the presentation and management of patients with acute appendicitis at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

² Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

³ Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

10.21608/EJSUR.2024.277284.1029

Abstract

Background: The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to significant changes in global
healthcare systems, with a particular emphasis on prioritizing COVID-19 patients, even in emergency surgical scenarios.
This study aimed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the presentation and management of acute appendicitis cases in
Saudi Arabia.
Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) from
March 2019 to March 2021, encompassing all patients with appendicitis during this time frame. The data collected
included demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, time taken before seeking medical help,
diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies, postoperative complications, and hospital stay duration.
Results: A total of 238 patients with acute appendicitis were hospitalized during the study, with a predominance of male
patients (59.7%). Of these, 72.3% (174) were admitted during the pandemic period. Perforated appendicitis was diagnosed
in 25 (10.5%) individuals. There were no significant differences observed between pre- and postpandemic periods
concerning the time from presentation to surgery (P=0.741), postoperative complications (P=0.563), ICU admissions
(P=0.637), readmissions (P=0.234), and overall length of hospital stay (P=0.228). However, notable associations were
noted in blood loss (P<0.001) and postoperative length of stay (P=0.021) between the two periods.
Conclusion: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no discernible differences in the duration from presentation
to surgery, complications, ICU admissions, readmissions, and total length of hospital stay compared with the pre-pandemic period.

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