Background We present outcomes of patients with SARS-CoV-2 undergoing appendectomy in order to aid in clarification of current controversies regarding safety of therapeutic options for emergency surgical diseases in patients with SARS-CoV-2. Peru has the greatest number of per capita deaths due to SARS-CoV-2 of any country and is one of few with a COVID-dedicated hospital. Materials and methods This prospective observational study included all adult patients with acute appendicitis admitted to an urban, public, COVID-dedicated hospital over two months. Baseline characteristics and post-operative outcomes at 28 days are reported. Results 58 patients, 35 male and 23 female, ages 15–73 years with SARS-CoV-2 as diagnosed by IgM (12%), IgG (19%) or both (69%) and acute appendicitis as diagnosed using the Alvarado Score and confirmed intraoperatively were enrolled. All patients presented with right lower quadrant pain, 86% with leukocytosis, 88% with nausea/emesis and no patients with respiratory complaints. All patients underwent open appendectomy, 90% under regional anesthesia. Average operative time was 54±25 min, length of stay 2.5±1.5 days. 14% of patients had a post-operative complication, all were minor, four (7%) incisional surgical site infections, one (2%) organ space, and three (5%) incisional seromas, no deaths or serious complications. Conclusion Open surgical management of acute appendicitis with regional anesthesia in adults with pre-operative diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is feasible and not associated with an increased frequency or severity of post-operative complications, longer operative time, or extended hospitalization as compared to reports in similar patients without SARS-CoV-2. Highlights • The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused the collapse of health systems across the globe. • Acute appendicitis is the most common emergency general surgery pathology. • Surgical management of appendicitis and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is feasible. • In low-income countries, we recommend early appendectomy for SARS-Cov-2 patients. • Recommend cautious generalization of reports on higher perioperative mortality.
【저자키워드】 SARS-COV-2 infection, Global surgery, Adult appendectomy, 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, IgG, IgM, pathology, Mortality, Hospitalization, prospective observational study, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, severity, hospital, surgical, outcome, Acute appendicitis, infections, Characteristics, management, male, female, Patient, Pain, death, complications, age, health system, disease, patients, score, Leukocytosis, Frequency, Appendicitis, therapeutic option, greatest number, operative time, material, organ, country, Result, enrolled, caused, globe, reported, diagnosed, feasible, respiratory complaints, diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, patients with SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 cross-sectional study, Patient, Complication,