Exp Ther Med
. 2022 Jun 1;24(1):482.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2022.11409. eCollection 2022 Jul.
COVID-19-associated acute appendicitis in adults. A report of five cases and a review of the literature
Vasiliki Epameinondas Georgakopoulou 1 , Aikaterini Gkoufa 1 , Christos Damaskos 2 3 , Petros Papalexis 4 5 , Aikaterini Pierrakou 6 , Sotiria Makrodimitri 1 , Georgia Sypsa 7 , Apostolos Apostolou 1 , Stavroula Asimakopoulou 1 , Serafeim Chlapoutakis 8 , Pagona Sklapani 9 , Nikolaos Trakas 10 , Demetrios A Spandidos 11
Affiliations
- PMID: 35761802
- PMCID: PMC9214594
- DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11409
Abstract
The novel coronavirus has negatively affected patients and healthcare systems globally. Individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience a wide range of respiratory symptoms, from mild flu-like symptoms to severe and potentially fatal pneumonia. Some patients report gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain in addition to the respiratory symptoms or as a separate presentation. Even though abdominal pain syndrome indicates acute appendicitis, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection should be considered as a possible diagnosis during this pandemic. However, there have been reports of a few cases of acute abdominal pain revealing acute appendicitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Appendectomy is challenging in COVID-19-infected patients with acute appendicitis as it includes high surgical risks for the patients, as well as hazards for healthcare professionals who are exposed to SARS-CoV-2. The present study reports five cases of adult patients with COVID-19 with simultaneous acute appendicitis. In addition, the present study aims to provide the framework for the diagnosis and management of adult patients with COVID-19 with acute appendicitis.
Keywords: abdominal pain; acute abdomen; acute appendicitis; appendectomy; coronavirus disease 2019.