Impact of COVID-19 Governmental Restrictions on Emergency General Surgery Operative Volume and Severity.

BACKGROUND: To describe the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency general surgery operative volumes during governmental shutdowns secondary to the pandemic and characterize differences in disease severity, morbidity, and mortality during this time compared to previous years. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study compares patients who underwent emergency general surgery operations at a tertiary hospital from March 1st to May 31st of 2020 to 2019. Average emergent cases per day were analyzed, comparing identical date ranges between 2020 (pandemic group) and 2019 (control group). Secondary analysis was performed analyzing disease severity, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: From March 1st to May 31st, 2020, 2.5 emergency general surgery operations were performed on average daily compared to 3.0 operations on average daily in 2019, a significant decrease (P = .03). No significant difference was found in presenting disease severity, morbidity, or mortality between the pandemic and control groups. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates a decrease of 65% in emergency general surgery operations during governmental restrictions secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decrease in operations was not associated with worse disease severity, morbidity, or mortality.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Trauma Population in a Level 1 Trauma Center.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of the pandemic on our trauma population. We performed a retrospective review of the trauma registry in the 2 years prior, and then 2 years during the pandemic. We evaluated age, race, gender, injury severity score (ISS), mechanism of trauma, rate of self-inflicted injury, rate of gunshot wounds (GSW), presence of EtOH, drug screen results, mortality, rate of burn traumas, and zip code of residence. Our query captured 5 054 patients before, and 5 731 during the pandemic. We found no statistical difference in age, gender, mechanism of trauma, rate of self-inflicted injuries, and mortality during the pandemic when compared to before. There were statistically significant differences in race, ISS, rate of GSWs, EtOH use, drug screen results, and burn traumas. Geospatial mapping found a rise in GSWs for zip code 36606. Gun violence and substance use rose in our trauma population during COVID-19.

Increased Penetrating Trauma and Trauma Severity During the COVID-19 Lockdown.

The COVID-19 mandated lockdown created unintended outcomes in traumatic injury patterns and psychosocial behaviors compared to previous years during the same timeframe. The aim of this research is to describe a population of trauma patients during the past 5 years to determine particular trends in trauma patterns and trauma severity. A retrospective cohort study on all adult (≥18 years) trauma patients admitted to this ACS verified Level I trauma center in South Carolina, inclusive years 2017 to 2021. A total of 3281 adult trauma patients were included during the lockdown period across 5 years. There was an increase in penetrating injuries in 2020 compared to 2019 (9% vs 4%, P < .01). The psychosocial impacts of government-mandated lockdowns may lead to increased alcohol consumption leading to a higher degree of injury severity and morbidity markers in the trauma population.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trauma Encounters.

OBJECTIVES: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic has affected the health care system significantly. We compare 2019 to 2020 to evaluate how trauma encounters has changed during the pandemic. METHODS: Retrospective analysis using a large US health care system to compare trauma demographics, volumes, mechanisms of injury, and outcomes. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate for significant differences comparing 2019 to 2020. RESULTS: Data was collected from 88 hospitals across 18 states. 169 892 patients were included in the study. There were 6.3% fewer trauma patient encounters in 2020 compared to 2019. Mechanism of injury was significantly different between 2019 and 2020 with less blunt injuries (89.64% vs. 88.39%, P < .001), more burn injuries (1.84% vs. 2.00%, P = .021), and more penetrating injuries (8.58% vs. 9.75%, P < .001). Compared to 2019, patients in 2020 had higher mortality (2.62% vs. 2.88%, P < .001), and longer hospital LOS (3.92 ± 6.90 vs. 4.06 ± 6.56, P < .001). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected trauma patient demographics, LOS, mechanism of injury, and mortality.

Changes in Injury Patterns Associated With Elevated Blood Alcohol Level.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to improve public health outreach in a high-risk population. METHODS: This is a single center study of Trauma Registry data, inclusive years January 1, 2016 to March 30, 2021. The study population was stratified into two groups: ETOH ≥ 80 mg/dL and ETOH <80 mg/dL. A total of 1141 were included. RESULTS: Those above the legal drinking limit had a significantly higher mean ETOH (231 mg/dL; P <.01) and were typically younger men that arrived by ground ambulance. The significant injury patterns of those above the legal limit included full activation and consults who fell from stairs and fell from other or unknown. A higher proportion of intoxicated fall trauma patients above the legal limit were diagnosed with a concussion. CONCLUSIONS: Excess alcohol consumption, particularly during a pandemic year, may lead to a higher incidence of fall from stairs trauma in men who are more likely to be diagnosed with a concussion.