Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on management of acute cholecystitis: A single tertiary center`s experience

Authors : Murat DEREBEY, Mahmut Arif YÜKSEK, Ufuk KARABACAK, Vahit MUTLU, Salih Rasit MIZAN, Ismail Alper TARIM, Aysu Basak OZBALCI, Senem KOC, Bülent GÜNGÖR, Ayfer KAMALI, Mahmut BAŞOĞLU

Pages : 164-168

View : 37 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2022-01-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Following the spread of novel coronavirus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(COVID-19); pandemic, surgical associations have issued their different recommendations for managing the acute cholecystitis insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(AC); clinic during the pandemic. We aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic period on our clinical approach in patients who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and were diagnosed with AC. Medical records of patients diagnosed with AC in the emergency room between 11 March 2020 and 10 March 2021 and in the same period of one year before the pandemic were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups as COVID-19 period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group 1); and non-COVID period insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Group 2);. Demographics and clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes of these two groups were compared. The number of patients diagnosed with AC in the emergency department decreased during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. When the time between the onset of the complaints and the admission to the emergency service was evaluated, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p>0.05);. The distribution of cholecystitis type and TG18 severity grading for AC were similar in both groups insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p>0.05);. While percutaneous cholecystostomy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PC); is more preferred in the treatment of AC during the pandemic period and the number of delayed interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy decreased, AC management was similar in both periods with no significant statistical difference insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(P>0.05);. In conclusion, our clinical approach and management in the treatment of AC did not differ when compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Keywords : acute cholecystitis, COVID 19, treatment modality, clinical approach

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