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Open Access 01-12-2023 | Appendicitis | Research

Were surgical outcomes for acute appendicitis impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Authors: Rachel Waldman, Harrison Kaplan, I. Michael Leitman

Published in: BMC Surgery | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare systems throughout the world. We examine whether appendectomy outcomes in 2020 and 2021 were affected by the pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 30-day appendectomy outcomes using the ACS-NSQIP database from 2019 through 2021. Logistic regression and linear regression analyses were performed to create models of post-operative outcomes.

Results

There were no associations between the time period of surgery and death, readmission, reoperation, deep incisional SSI, organ space SSI, sepsis, septic shock, rate of complicated appendicitis, failure to wean from the ventilator, or days from admission to operation. During the first 21 months of the pandemic (April 2020 through December 2021), there was a decreased length of hospital stay (p = 0.016), increased operative time (p < 0.001), and increased likelihood of laparoscopic versus open surgery (p < 0.001) in compared to 2019.

Conclusions

There were minimal differences in emergent appendectomy outcomes during the first 21 months of the pandemic when compared to 2019. Surgical systems in the US successfully adapted to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Title: Were surgical outcomes for acute appendicitis impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Rachel Waldman
Harrison Kaplan
I. Michael Leitman
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Appendicitis
Appendicitis
COVID-19
Appendectomy
Published in: BMC Surgery / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2482
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-023-01930-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Were surgical outcomes for acute appendicitis impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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