COVID-19 in the perioperative period of cardiovascular surgery: the brazilian experience

Abstract Introduction: We investigated the clinical course and outcomes of patients submitted to cardiovascular surgery in Brazil and who had developed symptoms/signs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the perioperative period. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study including 104 patients who were allocated in three groups according to time of positive real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2): group 1, patients who underwent cardiac surgery > 10 days after positive RT-PCR; group 2, patients with a positive RT-PCR within 10 days before or after surgery; group 3, patients who presented positive RT-PCR > 10 days after surgery. The primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and postoperative days of hospitalization. Results: The three groups were similar with respect to age, the European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score, and comorbidities, except hypertension. Postoperative complications and death were significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1, and no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 was seen. Group 2 showed a high prevalence of surgery performed as an urgent procedure. Although no significant differences were observed in ICU length of stay, total postoperative hospitalization time was significantly higher in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: COVID-19 affecting the postoperative period of patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery is associated with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality. Delaying procedures in RT-PCR-positive patients may help reduce risks of perioperative complications and death.

Dez anos de cirurgia dos aneurismas e dissecçöes crônicas da aorta ascendente no Instituto do Coraçäo - FMUSP / Ten years of surgery of chronic dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta in the Instituto do Coraçäo - FMUSP

Entre janeiro de 1980 e dezembro de 1990, 109 pacientes com idade entre 12 e 70 anos, 86 do sexo masculino e 23 do sexo feminino, foram operados para tratamento de aneurismas e dissecçoes da aorta ascendente, associados ou nao a insuficiência aórtica. Trinta e quatro pacientes estavam em classe funcional (CF) IV (NYHA), 51 em CF III, 18 em CF II e seis em CF I. Cinqüenta e dois pacientes tinham dissecçao crônica da aorta, 29 tinham ectasia ânulo-aórtica, dez aneurisma sacular com insuficiência aórtica e os demais, diagnósticos associados. A mortalidade imediata foi de 12,8 por cento (l4 óbitos). Vinte e sete (24,7 por cento) pacientes nao foram acompanhados tardiamente. A mortalidade tardia foi de 13,4 por cento (ll/82). Dos 72 pacientes acompanhados clinicamente até 120 meses de evoluçao (três a 120 meses), 65 (90,5 por cento) mantêm-se em CF I e II. Concluiu-se que: a operaçao de Bentall - De Bono, demonstra ter melhor resultado em relaçao às interposiçoes de tubo (p < O,01), com estimativa de funçao de sobrevida de 70 por cento em 120 meses, com excelente evoluçao clínica tardia.