Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on appendicitis treatment in Germany-a population-based analysis.
Franziska KöhlerLaura AcarAnne van den BergSven FlemmingCarolin KastnerSophie MüllerJohannes DiersChristoph-Thomas GermerJohann F LockHelmut L'hoestUrsula MarschallArmin WiegeringPublished in: Langenbeck's archives of surgery (2021)
In line with the overall drop of emergency room visits during the COVID-19 pandemic of spring 2020 in Germany, a significantly lowered number of patients with uncomplicated appendicitis were noticeable, whereas complicated appendicitis did not differ. Also, treatment and complication rate of acute appendicitis did not change. These findings might be a hint that acute appendicitis is not a progressing disease but caused by different entities for uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis and therefore another clue that uncomplicated appendicitis can be treated with antibiotics or observation. Nevertheless provided data does not cover outpatient treatment; therefore, no statement observation or antibiotics in outpatients can be made.