|
| Authors (year) | Origin | Sample size | Research design | Purpose | Summary of finding |
|
| Sathik et al. [2] (2020) | India | 155 | Retrospective and prospective observational study | To compare the presentation, grade of presentation, and postoperative complications of AA before and during the COVID-19 pandemic | Significant increase in complicated appendicitis, LOS, and postoperative surgical site infection during COVID-19 pandemic |
| El Nakeeb et al. [7] (2022) | Middle east | 1,945 | Multicenter prospective cohort study | To compare the presentation and outcomes of patients with AA who presented during the COVID-19 pandemic and before the onset of the pandemic | Decrease in the number of patients with AA was seen along with a higher incidence of complex AA, greater use of CT scanning, and more application of NOM during the COVID-19 pandemic
More postoperative complications, reoperation, and readmission during the COVID period |
| Javanmard-emamghissi et al. [35] (2021) | UK | 500 | Multicenter prospective cohort study | To determine the impact of the first weeks of the pandemic on the management of AA | Median LOS as significantly reduced in NOM group and 30 days complications were significantly higher in operative group. NOM shown to be safe and effective in the short-term, antibiotics should be considered as the first line during the pandemic and perhaps beyond |
| Zhou and Cen [42] (2020) | China | 90 | Retrospective study | To assess the efficacy of the management of AA during the COVID- 19 pandemic | Higher proportion of perforated appendicitis and chief complaint duration for perforated appendicitis was longer during COVID-19 pandemic
No long-term postoperative complication was found |
| Zaikos et al. [43] (2021) | USA | 283 | Retrospective observational study | To determine the effect the early COVID-19 pandemic period had on the presentation, management, and histopathologic severity of AA | No significant change in the number of patients presenting with AA
Significant increase in the incidence of perforated appendicitis decreased surgical management |
| Antakia et al. [44] (2021) | UK | 207 | Prospective cohort study | To determine the efficacy and outcomes of conservative versus surgical management of AA during the pandemic | Significant increase in radiological evaluation and conservative management during COVID-19 period
For those managed operatively an open approach was preferred intraoperative findings were suggestive of delayed presentation during the COVID period without affecting the LOS and mortality |
| Ganesh et al. [45] (2020) | UK | 96 | Retrospective study | To compare the management of appendicitis and postoperative outcomes between pre- and post-COVID-19 | Significant increase in imaging investigation and decrease in surgery during COVID-19 pandemic but no significant difference in the outcome |
| Pringle et al. [46] (2021) | UK | 247 | Retrospective cohort study | To compare the presentation, management, and outcomes of AA before and during the COVID-19 pandemic | No observed increase in severity of AA during the COVID-19 pandemic patients had a shorter LOS and were more likely to have imaging NOM proportionally increased with no observed change in outcomes |
| Turanli and Kiziltan [47] (2021) | Turkey | 214 | Retrospective observational study | To assess the clinical presentation and delays in diagnosing AA during the COVID-19 pandemic | No observable clear increase rate of perforated appendicitis during pandemic period |
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