Report of two cases of acute appendicitis prior to exams in medical students using OpenAI’s ChatGPT

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Acute appendicitis (AA) is a significant cause of emergency admissions among university students aged over 20 years. Students experience high demands during their undergraduate studies, often leading them to postpone mealtimes or rest breaks. Here, with the assistance of ChatGPT, we present two cases of medical students with AA who delayed their surgical treatment due to exams.<br /> <b>Clinical cases:</b> Two young patients (a 23-year-old female and a 20-year-old male) presented with severe abdominal pain, anorexia, and general discomfort. They had high C-reactive protein levels and white blood cell counts, as well as an ultrasound showing an enlarged appendix. Despite the confirmed diagnosis of appendicitis through abdominal ultrasound, both patients decided to postpone hospitalization and surgery due to university exams. They subsequently underwent uncomplicated emergency laparoscopic appendectomy. The clinical report of both cases was successfully addressed with ChatGPT, using the initial data from the medical record, and coherent discussions regarding patient management and follow-up were generated.<br /> <b>Conclusions:</b> The surgical intervention applied in both cases of AA was successful, and although both patients recovered without issues, delaying surgery can increase the risk of complications. It is necessary to educate the university population about the importance of immediate medical attention for the treatment of AA. ChatGPT appears to be a useful tool for organizing clinical information and improving discussions on therapeutic management.