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Introduction: The fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection had a significant impact on a number of patients reporting to the hospitals. Despite the presence of disturbing symptoms, patients postponed their medical visits. It resulted in health deterioration that worsened conditions for surgical procedures. Aim of the study: The aim of study was to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a number of patients reporting to the Emergency Department at University Hospital in Bialystok and a number of surgical emergency procedures and the Department of General Surgery. Material and methods: The retrospective analysis of patients who reported to the Internal Medicine and Surgical office of the Emergency Department at University Hospital in Bialystok in the same periods from June to December 2019 and 2020 with surgical conditions such as cholecystitis, inguinal hernia, and umbilical hernia. Results: In 2020, there was a significant decrease in the number of patients reporting to the Emergency Department when compared to 2019 (664 vs. 955). In 2020, there were more emergency surgeries performed including laparoscopic cholecystectomy (32 vs. 28) and inguinal hernia repair (17 vs. 5, p = 0.0013) compared to 2019. The analysis of biochemical parameters showed a higher level of C-reactive protein in patients undergoing emergency surgery in 2020 when compared to 2019 (11.85 vs. 3.35 p = 0.0140). Conclusions: The number of patients reporting to the Emergency Department was significantly lower in 2020 when compared to 2019 and patients presented more severe symptoms and general conditions. The above analysis triggered by the Coronavirus pandemic could be a useful tool for better managing similar crisis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of this study were: to evaluate the prevalence of abdominal wall defects in the Polish population, to analyze temporal trends in the prevalence, to identify areas (clusters) of high risk of abdominal wall defects, and to characterize, with respect to epidemiology, children with abdominal wall defects and their mothers in the area defined as a cluster.Material and Methods: We used isolated congenital malformations (gastroschisis Q79.3 and omphalocele Q79.2 according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10, the extended version)) data reported to the Polish Registry of Congenital Malformations (PRCM) over the years 1998- 2008 based on the population of 2 362 502 live births. We analyzed 11 administrative regions of Poland with complete epidemiologic data.Results: Of 11 regions, 2 had a significantly higher standardized prevalence of isolated gastroschisis: Dolnośląskie (1.7/10 000 live births, p = 0.0052) and Śląskie (1.9/10 000 live births, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, within the region of Dolnośląskie, we defined a clear prevalence of the isolated gastroschisis cluster (p = 0.023). We comprehensively examined demographic and socio-economic risk factors for abdominal wall defects in this area, and we found that these factors failed to account for the cluster.Conclusions: We identified a distinct prevalence cluster for isolated gastroschisis, although a precise reason for the disease clustering in this region remains unknown. Cluster identification enables more focused research aimed at identification of specific factors with teratogenic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a one-month-old female shih tzu puppy which was brought to the Laboratory of Radiology and Ultrasonography at the University of Life Science in Lublin, Poland due to vomiting and appetite loss. Findings revealed that the puppy had developed a rare congenital Morgagni diaphragmatic hernia and an umbilical hernia. It notes that the dog underwent a surgical operation to remove the hernias.