Appendectomy in patient with suspected COVID-19 with negative COVID-19 results: A case report

BACKGROUND Even at present,we are in the middle of the novel coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic and are facing challenges in trial and error.Presently,emergency surgery for patients with suspected COVID-19 is burdensome not only for patients but also for healthcare workers.Therefore,we established a surveillance system in the emergency room and established principles for managing patients suspected of COVID-19 who require emergency surgery.CASE SUMMARY A 67-year-old man was diagnosed with appendicitis in March 2020.His wife was diagnosed with COVID-1910 d earlier,and the patient was in close contact with her.The patient tested negative twice on an upper respiratory COVID-19 reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction screening test,but chest X-ray and chest computed tomography revealed patchy ground-glass opacity in both upper lobes of the patient’s lungs.The same emergency surgery procedure for patients with confirmed COVID-19 was applied to this patient suspected of having the disease to ensure that surgery was not delayed while waiting for the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction results.A few hours after surgery,the upper respiratory tract specimen taken in the emergency room was negative for COVID-19 but the lower respiratory tract specimen was found to be positive for the disease.CONCLUSION When COVID-19 is suspected,emergency surgery should be performed as for confirmed COVID-19 without delay.