Minimal impact of COVID-19 outbreak on the postoperative morbidity and mortality following emergency general surgery procedures: results from a 3-month observational period

• Published in: Medicinski glasnik Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 275 - 278
• Main Authors: Seretis, Charalampos, Archer, Lucy, Lalou, Lida, Yahia, Shuker, Katz, Christian, Parwaiz, Iram, Haji, Altaf, Selvam, Lourdusamy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton 01-08-2020
• Subjects: emergency; sars-cov-2; surgery
• ISSN: 1840-0132; 1840-0132; 1840-2445
• DOI: 10.17392/1229-20

Aim
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the delivery of elective, as well as emergency surgery on a worldwide scale. Up to date few studies have actually assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the postoperative morbidity and mortality following emergency gastrointestinal surgery. Herein, we present our relevant experience over a 3-month period of uninterrupted provision of emergency general surgery services in George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, the United Kingdom.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective institutional database, which included the operation types, paraclinical investigations and postoperative complications of all patients undergoing emergency general surgery operations between March-May 2020.
Results
The occurrence of a 5% overall respiratory complication rate postoperatively, with 3% infection rate for COVID-19 was found; no patient had unplanned return to intensive care for ventilator support and there was no mortality related to COVID-19 infection.
Conclusion
When indicated, emergency surgery should not be delayed in favour of expectant/conservative management in fear of COVID-19-related morbidity or mortality risks.