Does COVID-19 infection significantly affect liver transplantation? Results of liver transplantation in the COVID-19 era at a single, high-volume centre.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is a proven management method for end-stage cirrhosis and is estimated to have increased life expectancy by 15 years. The COVID-19 pandemic posed a challenge to patients who were candid for a solid-organ transplant. It has been suggested that the outcomes of liver transplants could be adversely affected by the infection, as immunosuppression makes liver transplant candidates more susceptible to adverse effects while predisposing them to higher thrombotic events. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, the cases who received liver transplants from January 2018 to March 2022 were assessed regarding early postoperative mortality rate and hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) with COVID-19 infection. This study included 614 cases, of which 48 patients were infected. RESULTS: This study shows that the early COVID-19-related early postoperative mortality rates substantially increased in the elective setting (OR: 2.697), but the results for the acute liver failure were insignificant. The average model for end-stage liver disease score increased significantly during the pandemic due to new regulations. Although mortality rates increased during the pandemic, the data for the vaccination period show that mortality rates have equalised with the prepandemic era. Meanwhile, COVID-19 infection is assumed to have increased HAT by 1.6 times in the elective setting. CONCLUSION: This study shows that COVID-19 infection in an acute liver failure poses comparatively little risk; hence transplantation should be considered in such cases. Meanwhile, the hypercoagulative state induced by the infection predisposes this group of patients to higher HAT rates.

Surgical coronary revascularization in patients with COVID-19; complications and outcomes: A retrospective cohort study.

Background and Aims: Coronary artery disease is high-risk comorbidity of COVID-19 infection. Nonelective coronary artery revascularization in COVID-19 patients carries substantial risk. Therefore, it is essential to understand the risk factors and outcomes fully. This study aims to evaluate the prognosis of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in patients with COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective cohort study assesses 171 patients who underwent urgent and emergent CABG in Tehran Heart Center from March 2020 to September 2021. The patients were allocated to cases and controls based on COVID-19 infection status. Demographic and clinical features, alongside the complications and outcomes, were compared between the two groups. Results: According to diagnostic criteria, 62 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 (Case) and 109 patients had no COVID diagnosis (Control). Regarding the demographics and risk factors, hypertension was more prevalent among patients with COVID-19 (64.5% compared to 43.1% p= 0.007). Length of hospital stay, ventilation time, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay time were significantly higher in patients infected with COVID-19. Postoperative complications, including stroke, atrial fibrillation, pleural effusion, blood transfusion, and Inotrope use, were significantly higher in the case group. Mortality rates were also higher in COVID-19 patients with an odds ratio of 1.53; however, this difference is not statistically significant (p: 0.44, 95% CI = 0.50-4.01). Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with a significantly higher hospital stay, ventilation time, and ICU stay. Mortality rates are also higher, albeit insignificantly. Various postoperative complications are also higher with COVID-19.