Case series of acute appendicitis association with SARS-CoV-2 infection

BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Feb 25;21(1):217. doi: 10.1186/s12879-021-05909-y.

Abstract

Background: Describe the indications for surgical interventions in asymptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2. We are unaware of previous reports of an association between SARS-CoV-2 and acute appendicitis.

Methods: We performed a single institution retrospective review of SARS-CoV-2 pre-procedure testing and indications for surgical intervention. Statistical comparisons were performed using Chi Square analysis or two-tailed Student T test.

Results: We report a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in both all testing and pre-procedure testing during the enrollment period. We observe a high prevalence of acute appendicitis among patients identified to be SARS-CoV-2 positive during pre-procedure testing and without recognized symptoms of COVID19.

Conclusion: We report a previously unrecognized association between SARS-CoV-2 and acute appendicitis.

Keywords: Appendicitis; COVID19; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Appendicitis / complications*
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2