ABSTRACT
A 47-year-old woman developed a de novo occurrence of Crohn's disease after coronavirus disease 2019. This is an unusual occurrence and suggests that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 could trigger inflammatory bowel disease in predisposed people.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Colitis, Ulcerative , Crohn Disease , Proctocolectomy, Restorative , Colitis, Ulcerative/surgery , Crohn Disease/complications , Crohn Disease/surgery , HumansABSTRACT
AIM: This report summarizes the early experience of implementing elective colorectal cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A pathway to minimize the risk of including COVID-19-positive patients for elective surgery was established. Prioritization and additional safety measures were introduced into clinical practice. Minimal invasive surgery was used where appropriate. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were prioritized, and 23 patients underwent surgery (eight colon, 14 rectal and one anal cancer). The minimal invasive surgery rate was 78%. There were no major postoperative complications or patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Histopathological outcomes were similar to normal practice. CONCLUSION: A safe pathway to offer standard high-quality surgery to colorectal cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic is feasible.