The Impact of COVID-19 on Acute Surgeries in England Among the Under-25s: A Retrospective Study of 61,360 Appendicitis and 15,850 Testicular Torsion Admissions

jpedsurg.org

Little is known about how COVID-19 impacted acute surgical activity for children and young people (CYP) across England. Appendicitis and testicular torsion are common surgical conditions where treatment delays can lead to avoidable complications. We undertook a retrospective national cohort study.Primary aim: To describe monthly acute surgical activity in CYP during the COVID-19 pandemic.Secondary aim: To investigate evidence of delayed diagnosis and adverse outcomes, describing variations by age and socioeconomic deprivation.

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Article · Aug 2024 · 1 min read

In brief

This national retrospective cohort study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected emergency surgical care for children and young people in England, analyzing over 77,000 admissions for appendicitis and testicular torsion. The research investigates whether pandemic-related disruptions led to treatment delays, worse outcomes, and disparities based on age and socioeconomic status.

COVID-19 pandemic disrupted acute surgical care for children and young people across England, affecting common time-sensitive conditions.
Appendicitis (61,360 cases) and testicular torsion (15,850 cases) served as sentinel conditions to measure pandemic impact on pediatric surgery.
Treatment delays in these conditions can cause avoidable complications, making them ideal markers for healthcare access disruption.
Study examined variations by age and socioeconomic deprivation to identify vulnerable populations disproportionately affected.
National cohort design provides population-level evidence of pandemic's effect on pediatric emergency surgical services.

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