Safety of elective abdominal and vascular surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective single-center study

European Journal of Medical Research

卷:26

Simon Kusan¹  Sven Flemming¹  Mohammed K. Hankir¹  Christoph-Thomas Germer¹  Armin Wiegering¹  Friedrich Anger¹  Manuel Krone² 

[1] Department of General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg;

[2] Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg;

关键词: SARS-CoV-2;    COVID-19;    Elective surgery;    Screening;    PCR;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40001-021-00583-x

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who undergo surgery have impaired postoperative outcomes and increased mortality. Consequently, elective and semi-urgent operations on the increasing number of patients severely affected by COVID-19 have been indefinitely postponed.in many countries with unclear implications on disease progression and overall survival. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the establishment of a standardized screening program for acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is sufficient to ensure high-quality medical and surgical treatment of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients while minimizing in-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Methods The screening program comprised polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of nasopharyngeal swabs and a standardized questionnaire about potential symptoms for SARS-CoV-2 infection. All elective and emergency patients admitted to the surgical department of a tertiary-care hospital center in Lower Franconia, Germany, between March and May 2020 were included and their characteristics were recorded. Results Out of the study population (n = 657), 509 patients (77.5%) had at least one risk factor for a potentially severe course of COVID-19 and 164 patients (25%) were active smokers. The average 7-day incidence in Lower Franconia was 24.0/100,000 during the observation period. Preoperative PCR testing revealed four asymptomatic positive patients out of the 657 tested patients. No postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection or transmission could be detected. Conclusion The implementation of a standardized preoperative screening program to both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients can ensure high-quality surgical care while minimizing infection risk for healthcare workers and potential in-hospital transmission.

【 授权许可】

Unknown