Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pattern of acute appendicitis, a single-center study.

Background: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a decline in emergency department visits for various conditions, including appendicitis, was noted. Objective: To evaluate changes in the number, clinical presentation, and surgical approach of appendectomies performed during the COVID-19 lockdown compared to a pre-pandemic period. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Patients: All patients who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis during the lockdown months (March-May 2020 and 2021) were compared to those who had appendectomy during the same months in 2018-2019. Main outcome measures: The rates of complicated (perforated) appendicitis, total number of procedures, and surgical modality (open vs. laparoscopic) were compared between the two periods. Results: A total of 252 patients were included. During the pandemic period, 19.4% of patients presented with a perforated appendix vs. 9.3% in the pre-pandemic group ( Conclusion: In our study, the COVID-19 lockdown was associated with a significant increase in the rate of perforated appendicitis, a reduction in hospital-treated cases, and a higher rate of open surgery. These findings may suggest delayed patient presentation during the pandemic or a relative decrease in less severe cases.