The Impact of Prior Infection With SARS-Cov-2 on Surgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Body Contouring Procedures.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence of increased postoperative complications in patients who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2. However, previous studies have not examined this effect in abdominal contouring procedures. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for all patients who underwent abdominoplasty or panniculectomy at our institution from March 2020 to November 2021. Patients were separated into cohorts via preoperative history of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Variables collected include demographic data, concurrent comorbidities, postoperative complications, readmission/reoperation, and length of stay. Parametric, nonparametric, and multivariable regression modeling was used for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 181 patients included, 14 (7.7%) had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Average time from infection to surgery was 250 days. The mean age and Charlson Comorbidity Index for nonexposed and exposed patients were 45.4 and 45.9 years, and 1.24 and 1.36 points. Patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to have chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR], 6.79; P = 0.017) and undergo abdominoplasties compared with panniculectomies (OR, 4.43; P = 0.039). There were no other significant differences in patient or operative characteristics between the cohorts. Compared with those with no history of infection, patients with prior infections had increased odds of postoperative complications such as delayed wound healing (OR, 27.67; P < 0.001). No other significant associations were found between prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and perioperative outcomes. CONCLUSION: Prior SARS-CoV-2 infections may be associated with increased incidence of delayed wound healing despite a significant time lag between the time of infection and operation. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact relationship and mechanism of action behind these findings.

Frontline Reporting from the Epicenter of a Global Pandemic: A Survey of the Impact of COVID-19 on Plastic Surgery Training in New York and New Jersey.

BACKGROUND: Since the first documented case of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), the greater New York City area quickly became the epicenter of the global pandemic, with over 500,000 cases and 50,000 deaths. This unprecedented crisis affected all aspects of health care, including plastic surgery residency training. The purpose of this study was to understand the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic surgery residencies. METHODS: A survey of all plastic surgery residency training programs in the greater New York City area was conducted. The impact to training during the peak months of infection (March and April of 2020) was evaluated using resident education as measured by case numbers, need for redeployment, and staff wellness as primary outcome variables. RESULTS: A total of 11 programs were identified in the region, and seven programs completed the survey, with a response rate 63.6 percent. When comparing productivity in March and April of 2019 to March and April of 2020, a total decrease in surgical volume of 64.8 percent (range, 19.7 to 84.8 percent) and an average of 940 (range, 50 to 1287) cancelled clinic visits per month were observed. These decreases directly correlated with the local county's COVID-19 incidence rates (p = 0.70). A total of 83 percent of programs required redeployment to areas of need, and correlation between local incidence of COVID-19 and the percentage of residents redeployed to non-plastic surgical clinical environments by a given program (ρ = 0.97) was observed. CONCLUSION: As the first COVID-19 wave passes the greater New York area and spreads to the rest of the country, the authors hope their experience will shed light on the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and inform other programs on what to expect and how they can try and prepare for future public health crises.