tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
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[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Aikaterini Gkoufa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christos Damaskos[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Petros Papalexis[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Aikaterini Pierrakou[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sotiria Makrodimitri[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Georgia Sypsa[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Apostolos Apostolou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Stavroula Asimakopoulou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Serafeim Chlapoutakis[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Pagona Sklapani[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Nikolaos Trakas[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Demetrios A Spandidos[SUP] 11 [/SUP]
Affiliations
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.
. 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[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Aikaterini Gkoufa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christos Damaskos[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Petros Papalexis[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Aikaterini Pierrakou[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sotiria Makrodimitri[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Georgia Sypsa[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Apostolos Apostolou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Stavroula Asimakopoulou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Serafeim Chlapoutakis[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Pagona Sklapani[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Nikolaos Trakas[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Demetrios A Spandidos[SUP] 11 [/SUP]
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.