ABSTRACT
With the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is not uncommon to see patients who present with respiratory symptoms secondary to an abdominal pathology, being suspected of having COVID-19. Here, authors report a case of an elderly female who presented with recent-onset dyspnoea, shortness of breath, pain abdomen and non passage of flatus and stools. Examination revealed that the patient had tachycardia, tachypnoea, and dyspnoea with an oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) of 92%. Her abdomen was distended, non tender with no free fluid detected. All the hernial orifices were free. Computed Tomography (CT) scan revealed a left diaphragmatic hernia and a left-sided obturator hernia with obstructed ileal segment. However, intraoperatively a Type IV hiatus hernia was discovered, where the Gastrooesophageal (GE) junction, stomach, colon, and omentum were the contents. This case highlights an unusual clinical presentation of a rare cause of intestinal obstruction and its management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Obstructed obturator hernia is associated with high morbidity and mortality.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Since the appearance of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, we have experienced a reduction in admissions in our Service and a decrease in urgent surgical activity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the incidence of potentially surgical abdominal emergency in our center during the epidemic of COVID-19. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed. It included all patients admitted for urgent abdominal pathology with potential surgical treatment in our General and Digestive Surgery Department from February 24, 2020 to April 19, 2020. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients with a mean age of 58.85±22.2 were included. The median time from symptom onset to the Emergency Department (ED) visit was 48 (P25-P75 = 24-96) hours. On arrival at the ED, 18 (20%) patients presented with systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria. Fifty-one (57%) surgical procedures were performed. The rate of post-surgical complications at 30 days was 31% and the mortality rate was 2%. Concerning the same period from 2017 to 2019, the mean number of admissions from the ED to our Department decreased by 14% during the epidemic period. CONCLUSION: There has been a decrease in the number of patients admitted for urgent, potentially surgical, abdominal pathology during the period of the COVID-19 epidemic in our center.
Subject(s)
Abdomen/surgery , COVID-19/epidemiology , Digestive System Diseases/epidemiology , Digestive System Diseases/surgery , Emergency Service, Hospital , Female , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Pandemics , Patient Admission/trends , Patient Readmission/statistics & numerical data , Postoperative Complications , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Spain/epidemiology , Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a severe and complicated situation. As of February 23, 2020, there have been more than 77,038 confirmed cases of new coronavirus infection nationwide. COVID-19 is highly infectious and has a long incubation period and a variety of clinical manifestations, which has a great impact on society and economy and also seriously affects the daily operation of hepatobiliary surgery. This article discusses and recommends the medical protection measures required for outpatient, ward, and operation of hepatobiliary surgery, in order to reduce the risk of nosocomial infection in hepatobiliary surgery during the COVID-19 epidemic.