The Role of Imaging in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Retrospective Cohort Study
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Appendicitis
- Sponsor
- University College London Hospitals
- Enrollment
- 313
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Negative Appendicectomy Rate (NAR)
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 4 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This is a retrospective observational study in the form of a cohort study evaluating the use of pre-operative imaging for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in a tertiary centre during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The study group includes all patients who underwent emergency appendicectomy for suspected acute appendicitis between March 2020 and February 2021, while the control group includes all patients who underwent emergency appendicectomy for suspected acute appendicitis between March 2019 and February 2020. The final histology will be used as primary outcome, as the study hypothesis is that increasing the use of pre-operative imaging will reduce the negative appendicectomy rate.
Investigators
Dr Gerardo Perrotta
Trust Grade Doctor in General Surgery
University College London Hospitals
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Patients of all ages who underwent emergency appendicectomy (either laparoscopic or open) for suspected acute appendicitis
- •Patients of all ages who underwent partial ileo-caecectomy or right hemicolectomy for suspected acute appendicitis
Exclusion Criteria
- •Patients who underwent elective interval appendicectomy for a previous appendiceal phlegmon
- •Patients who underwent appendicectomy or right hemicolectomy for appendiceal tumours
- •Patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for suspected acute appendicitis, where the appendix was not removed
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Negative Appendicectomy Rate (NAR)
Time Frame: Up to 3 weeks post-operatively (when final Histology is ready)
Number of patients with final histology negative for acute appendicitis
Secondary Outcomes
- Post-Operative Length of Stay(Assessed on day 30 after the completion of the study)
- Post-Operative Complications Rate(Within 30 post-operative days)