Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on management and outcomes of children with appendicitis: The Children with AppendicitiS during the CoronAvirus panDEmic (CASCADE) study

Prospective UK/Ireland study of 2,002 children with appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic found 28% received initial non-operative management (versus 0% pre-pandemic), with 22% requiring subsequent appendectomy. Diagnostic imaging use increased significantly (54% vs 31%), reflecting pandemic-era shifts in surgical decision-making and resource utilization for pediatric appendicitis.