Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown policies in Germany on frequency and treatment of peritonsillar abscess at a tertiary referral center in Germany.
METHODS: This retrospective case-control study analyzed all cases of peritonsillar abscess treated from 03/01/2018 until 08/30/2022 at Augsburg ENT University Hospital, Germany, through abscess tonsillectomy and/ or incisional drainage. Data was collected and correlated to Covid-19 Stringency Index using codes based on the Institute for Hospital Remuneration System in Germany. After excluding 303 cases, 975 abscess tonsillectomy and incisional drainage cases were studied, with the first German lockdown serving as cutoff date. Treatment algorithm was maintained regardless of co-infection with Covid-19.
RESULTS: A total of 174 patients received abscess tonsillectomy as therapy, while 801 patients underwent incisional drainage. Before the first German lockdown, 452 patients received incisional drainage. Since the pandemic, 349 cases of incisional drainage were registered (OR = 0.54, 95%-CI [0.27-0.86], p = 0.04), despite no significant change in the percentage of peritonsillar abscess of all ENT emergencies. The mean age at presentation with PTA was 39.8 years, and the rate of relapse was 4.0%. The study found no association between the scale of policy measures and treatment (OR = 1.00, 95%-CI [0.99-1.01], p = 0.52).
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that, despite the reduction in capacities due to Covid-19, the proportion of patients with peritonsillar abscess treated through abscess tonsillectomy increased at Augsburg ENT University Hospital since the first German lockdown. Hospitalization times could still be reduced with comparable relapse rates.
METHODS: This retrospective case-control study analyzed all cases of peritonsillar abscess treated from 03/01/2018 until 08/30/2022 at Augsburg ENT University Hospital, Germany, through abscess tonsillectomy and/ or incisional drainage. Data was collected and correlated to Covid-19 Stringency Index using codes based on the Institute for Hospital Remuneration System in Germany. After excluding 303 cases, 975 abscess tonsillectomy and incisional drainage cases were studied, with the first German lockdown serving as cutoff date. Treatment algorithm was maintained regardless of co-infection with Covid-19.
RESULTS: A total of 174 patients received abscess tonsillectomy as therapy, while 801 patients underwent incisional drainage. Before the first German lockdown, 452 patients received incisional drainage. Since the pandemic, 349 cases of incisional drainage were registered (OR = 0.54, 95%-CI [0.27-0.86], p = 0.04), despite no significant change in the percentage of peritonsillar abscess of all ENT emergencies. The mean age at presentation with PTA was 39.8 years, and the rate of relapse was 4.0%. The study found no association between the scale of policy measures and treatment (OR = 1.00, 95%-CI [0.99-1.01], p = 0.52).
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that, despite the reduction in capacities due to Covid-19, the proportion of patients with peritonsillar abscess treated through abscess tonsillectomy increased at Augsburg ENT University Hospital since the first German lockdown. Hospitalization times could still be reduced with comparable relapse rates.
摘要：
目的：这项研究的目的是研究德国Covid-19大流行和封锁政策对德国三级转诊中心扁桃体周围脓肿的频率和治疗的影响。
方法：这项回顾性病例对照研究分析了2018年3月1日至2022年8月30日在奥格斯堡耳鼻喉科大学医院治疗的所有扁桃体周围脓肿病例，德国,通过脓肿扁桃体切除术和/或切口引流。使用基于德国医院薪酬体系研究所的代码收集数据并将其与Covid-19严格性指数相关联。在排除303例之后，研究了975例脓肿扁桃体切除术和切口引流病例，第一个德国封锁作为截止日期。无论是否与Covid-19共感染，都保持了治疗算法。
结果：总共174例患者接受了脓肿扁桃体切除术作为治疗，而801例患者行切开引流。在德国第一次封锁之前，452例患者行切口引流。自从大流行以来，记录了349例切口引流（OR=0.54，95％-CI[0.27-0.86]，p=0.04),尽管所有耳鼻喉科急症的扁桃体周围脓肿百分比没有显着变化。PTA的平均年龄为39.8岁，复发率为4.0%。研究发现政策措施与治疗之间没有关联(OR=1.00，95%-CI[0.99-1.01]，p=0.52）。
结论：结果表明，尽管Covid-19导致容量下降，但自德国首次封锁以来，奥格斯堡耳鼻喉科大学医院通过脓肿扁桃体切除术治疗扁桃体周围脓肿的患者比例有所增加。在复发率相当的情况下，住院时间仍然可以减少。
方法：这项回顾性病例对照研究分析了2018年3月1日至2022年8月30日在奥格斯堡耳鼻喉科大学医院治疗的所有扁桃体周围脓肿病例，德国,通过脓肿扁桃体切除术和/或切口引流。使用基于德国医院薪酬体系研究所的代码收集数据并将其与Covid-19严格性指数相关联。在排除303例之后，研究了975例脓肿扁桃体切除术和切口引流病例，第一个德国封锁作为截止日期。无论是否与Covid-19共感染，都保持了治疗算法。
结果：总共174例患者接受了脓肿扁桃体切除术作为治疗，而801例患者行切开引流。在德国第一次封锁之前，452例患者行切口引流。自从大流行以来，记录了349例切口引流（OR=0.54，95％-CI[0.27-0.86]，p=0.04),尽管所有耳鼻喉科急症的扁桃体周围脓肿百分比没有显着变化。PTA的平均年龄为39.8岁，复发率为4.0%。研究发现政策措施与治疗之间没有关联(OR=1.00，95%-CI[0.99-1.01]，p=0.52）。
结论：结果表明，尽管Covid-19导致容量下降，但自德国首次封锁以来，奥格斯堡耳鼻喉科大学医院通过脓肿扁桃体切除术治疗扁桃体周围脓肿的患者比例有所增加。在复发率相当的情况下，住院时间仍然可以减少。
