Momento de la cirugía en pacientes iraquíes con Contagio de COVID-19 / Timing of surgery in Iraqi patients with COVID-19 infection

Los pacientes con infección perioperatoria por COVID-19 tienen un alto riesgo de muerte y complicaciones posoperatorias. En la actualidad, la infección por COVID-19 en Irak representó 1.696.390 casos con 19.087 muertes. Un estudio nacional, único y observacional que incluyó pacientes con infección por COVID-19 que se sometieron a cualquier tipo de cirugía en el Hospital General de Abu-Graib, Bagdad, Irak, durante el período del 19 de marzo de 2020 al 30 de abril de 2021. Tiempo desde el diagnóstico de la infección por COVID-19 El día de la cirugía se recogió como factor categórico dividido en: (a) 0-3 semanas; (b) 4­6 semanas; (c) >6 semanas. Edad; sexo; estado físico de la Sociedad Americana de Anestesiólogos (ASA); comorbilidades cardíacas; comorbilidades respiratorias; indicación de cirugía; grado de cirugía; y se documentaron los tipos quirúrgicos. Se incluyeron un total de 378 pacientes con una edad media de 47,89±16,03 años. Las mujeres eran más que los hombres (65,87% > 34,13%). Aproximadamente, el 76,72% de los pacientes pertenecían a ASA I-II, mientras que el 23,28% eran ASA III-IV. Alrededor del 19,05% de los pacientes sufría de comorbilidades cardíacas. 266/378 de los pacientes se quejaron de comorbilidades respiratorias. Cirugía indicada en 35,45% condiciones benignas, 27,5% obstetricia, 7,65% cirugía oncológica y 29,4% operaciones traumáticas. Operaciones mayores documentadas en 205/378 pacientes. Las intervenciones quirúrgicas de urgencia realizadas en (176, 46,56%), mientras que los casos electivos fueron 202/378 (53,44%). En total, en el momento de la operación, 80 (21,16 %) pacientes tenían un diagnóstico preoperatorio de COVID-19. El tiempo desde el diagnóstico de COVID-19 hasta la cirugía fue de 0 a 3 semanas en 98 pacientes (25,93 %), de 4 a 6 semanas en 115 pacientes (30,42 %) y >6 semanas en 165 pacientes (43,65 %). La tasa de mortalidad postoperatoria global fue del 9,52% (36/378). Con respecto a la complicación cardiaca de la O.P., no hubo asociación significativa en relación al momento previo a la cirugía (p=0,08). Sin embargo, la complicación cardíaca global fue del 16,4%. En general, el 44,97 % (170/378) de los pacientes desarrollaron una complicación pulmonar por O.P. durante el período de seguimiento. Hasta donde sabemos, este es el primer estudio que proporciona datos sólidos sobre el momento óptimo para la cirugía después de la infección por COVID-19 en Irak. El momento óptimo de la cirugía después de la infección por COVID-19 fue de más de 6 semanas. Descubrimos que los riesgos de morbilidad y mortalidad por O.P. son mayores si los pacientes son operados dentro de las 6 semanas posteriores al diagnóstico de infección por COVID-19.

Patients with perioperative COVID-19 infection are at high risk of death and complications postoperatively. Nowadays, COVID-19 infection in Iraq accounted 1,696,390 cases with 19,087 deaths. A national, single, and observational study that included patients with COVID-19 infection undergoing any type of surgery in Abu-Graib General Hospital, Baghdad Iraq during period from 19 March 2020 to 30 April 2021. Time from the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection to day of surgery was collected as a categorical factor divided into: (a) 0­3 wks; (b) 4­6 wks; (c) >6 wks. Age; sex; American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status; cardiac comorbidities; respiratory comorbidities; indication for surgery; surgery grade; and surgical types were documented. A total of 378 patient were included with mean age was 47.89±16.03 years. Females were more than males (65.87% > 34.13%). Approximately, 76.72% of patients belonged within ASA I-II, whereas 23.28% were ASA III-IV. About 19.05% of patients suffered from cardiac comorbidities. 266/378 of patients complained from respiratory comorbidities. Surgery indicated in 35.45% benign conditions, 27.5% obstetrics, 7.65% oncological surgery, and 29.4% traumatic operations. Major operations documented in 205/378 patients. Emergencies surgical intervention done in (176, 46.56%), whereas elective cases were 202/378 (53.44%). In total at operation timing, 80(21.16%) patients had a preoperative COVID-19 diagnosis. The time from COVID-19 diagnosis to surgery was 0­3 weeks in 98 patients (25.93%), 4­6 weeks in 115 patients (30.42%), and >6 weeks in 165 patients (43.65%). The overall postoperative mortality rate was 9.52% (36/378). In regard to P. O. cardiac complication, there was no significant association in relation to timing before surgery (p=0.08). However, the overall cardiac complication was 16.4%. Overall, 44.97% (170/378) of patients developed a P. O. pulmonary complication within period of follow-up. To our knowledge this is the first study to provide strong data regarding the optimal timing for surgery following COVID-19 infection in Iraq. The optimal timing of surgery after COVID-19 infection was more than 6 wks. We found that risks of P. O. morbidity and mortality are greatest if patients are operated within 6 wks of diagnosis of COVID-19 infection

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer surgery

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the course of diseases that require emergency surgery. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer disease stage. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective analysis in the city of Rize, Turkey. METHODS: This was a comparative analysis on two groups of patients with various symptoms who underwent surgical colorectal cancer treatment. Group 1 comprised patients operated between March 11, 2019, and December 31, 2019; while group 2 comprised patients at the same time of the year during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Groups 1 and 2 included 56 and 48 patients, respectively. The rate of presentation to the emergency service was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.02). The stage of the pathological lymph nodes and the rate of liver metastasis was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.004 and P < 0.041, respectively). The disease stage was found to be more advanced in Group 2 (P < 0.005). The rate of postoperative complications was higher in Group 2 (P < 0.014). CONCLUSION: The presentation of patients with suspicious findings to the hospital was delayed, due both to the fear of catching COVID-19 and to the pandemic precautions that were proposed and implemented by healthcare authorities worldwide. Among the patients who presented to the hospital with emergency complaints and in whom colorectal cancer was detected, their disease was at a more advanced stage and thus a higher number of emergency oncological surgical procedures were performed on those patients.

Covid-19: demanda reprimida de cirurgias eletivas / Covid-19: pent-up demand for elective surgeries

A pandemia causada pelo SARS-CoV-2 impôs grandes sobrecarga aos sistemas de saúde em todo o mundo. A partir de março de 2020, no intuito de priorizar os recursos assistenciais ao atendimento dos casos de COVID-19, consultas e procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos foram suspensos por diferentes períodos de tempo conforme a situação epidemiológica de cada país. No Brasil e em Goiás, o número de procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos diminuiu consideravelmente durante a pandemia, comparado aos anos anteriores tabela (1). Em todo o território nacional, em 2020, houve uma redução de 41,5% do total de cirurgias eletivas e, no estado de 30,9% em relação a 2019 (GOIÁS, 2021). A redução da oferta de cirurgias eletivas gera atraso para realização de condutas terapêuticas, agravamento de condições preexistentes, piora do prognóstico do paciente, aumento da morbimortalidade e maior impacto financeiro para os sistemas de saúde (ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND, 2021).

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has imposed great burden on health systems worldwide. From March 2020, in order to prioritize care resources to attend the cases of COVID-19, consultations and elective surgical procedures were suspended for different periods of time according to the epidemiological situation of each country. In Brazil and Goiás, the number of elective surgical procedures decreased considerably during the pandemic, compared to previous years table (1). Nationwide, in 2020, there was a 41.5% reduction in all elective surgeries and, in the state, 30.9% compared to 2019 (GOIÁS, 2021). The reduction in the supply of elective surgeries generates delay in performing therapeutic approaches, worsening of preexisting conditions, worsening of the patient's prognosis, increased morbidity and mortality and greater financial impact on health systems (ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND, 2021)

Definiciones operativas y protocolo anestésico durante la pandemia producida por SARS-CoV-2 en un programa de cirugía cardíaca pediátrica / Operative definitions and anesthetic protocol during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a pediatric cardiac surgery program

The clinical characteristics of the pediatric population infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in general are not as severe as in the adult population, so they can be considered asymptomatic carriers. The pediatric patient with congenital heart disease are considered a high risk group of contagion in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, so healthcare personnel who interact with patients must have established guidelines to avoid transmission and spread of the disease. Each country is commanded by the central guidelines established by its health system considering operative definitions and protocols, but in certain places these guidelines do not fulfill international standards, as those proposed by the World Health Organization. In this communication we have done a current literature review and adaptation of the recommendations to face the infectious outbreak due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in pediatric cardiovascular surgery programs, specifically in the ​​anesthesiology area. We also analyze the type of personal protective equipment that should be used in each area of ​​patient management, changes in the environment of work areas, shift times of health personnel, the protection of personnel performing transesophageal echocardiography, modification of the airway management algorithms, proper placement and withdrawal of personal protective equipment, patients transfer between wards or other services, and adequate disinfection of airway equipment used.

Las características clínicas de la población pediátrica contagiada del virus SARS-CoV-2 en general no son tan severas como en la población adulta, por lo que pueden ser considerados portadores asintomáticos. El paciente pediátrico con cardiopatía congénita pertenece a un grupo de alto riesgo de contagio dentro de la pandemia producida por el SARS-CoV-2, por lo que el personal sanitario que interactúe con los pacientes debe tener lineamientos establecidos para evitar la transmisión y propagación de la enfermedad. Cada país se rige por las guías centrales establecidas por su sistema de salud en cuanto a definiciones operativas y protocolos, pero en algunos lugares estas directrices no cumplen las metas internacionales, como las propuestas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. En este comunicado hemos realizado una revisión de la literatura actual y adaptación de las recomendaciones para enfrentar el brote infeccioso por el virus SARS-CoV-2 en los programas de cirugía cardiovascular pediátrica, específicamente en el área de anestesiología. También analizamos el tipo de equipo de protección personal que debe ser utilizado en cada área del manejo de pacientes, cambios del ambiente de las áreas de trabajo, rotación de personal, la protección del personal que realiza ecocardiografía transesofágica, modificación de los algoritmos de manejo de la vía aérea, colocación y retiro correctos del equipo de protección personal, traslado de los pacientes entre servicios, y adecuada desinfección del equipo utilizado en el manejo de la vía aérea.