RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic which may compromise the management of vascular emergencies. An uncompromised treatment for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) during such a health crisis represents a challenge. This study aimed to demonstrate the treatment outcomes of rAAA and the perioperative prevention of cross-infection under the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In cases of rAAA during the pandemic, a perioperative workflow was applied to expedite coronavirus testing and avoid pre-operative delay, combined with a strategy for preventing cross-infection. Data of rAAA treated in 11 vascular centers between January-March 2020 collected retrospectively were compared to the corresponding period in 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: Eight, 12, and 14 rAAA patients were treated in 11 centers in January-March 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. An increased portion were treated at local hospitals with a comparable outcome compared with large centers in Guangzhou. With EVAR-first strategy, 85.7% patients with rAAA in 2020 underwent endovascular repair, similar to that in 2018 and 2019. The surgical outcomes during the pandemic were not inferior to that in 2018 and 2019. The average length of ICU stay was 1.8 ± 3.4 days in 2020, tending to be shorter than that in 2018 and 2019, whereas the length of hospital stay was similar among 3 years. The in-hospital mortality of 2018, 2019, and 2020 was 37.5%, 25.0%, and 14.3%, respectively. Three patients undergoing emergent surgeries were suspected of COVID-19, though turned out to be negative after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience for emergency management of rAAA and infection prevention for healthcare providers is effective in optimizing emergent surgical outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asunto(s)
Aneurisma de la Aorta Abdominal/cirugía , Rotura de la Aorta/cirugía , COVID-19/prevención & control , Infección Hospitalaria/prevención & control , Control de Infecciones , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Vasculares , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Aneurisma de la Aorta Abdominal/diagnóstico , Rotura de la Aorta/diagnóstico , COVID-19/diagnóstico , COVID-19/transmisión , COVID-19/virología , Prueba de COVID-19 , China , Infección Hospitalaria/diagnóstico , Infección Hospitalaria/transmisión , Infección Hospitalaria/virología , Urgencias Médicas , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Seguridad del Paciente , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Factores de Tiempo , Resultado del Tratamiento , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Vasculares/efectos adversos , Flujo de TrabajoRESUMEN
Coronavirus-caused pneumonia (COVID-19) broke out in December 2019. The virus soon proved to be extremely contagious and caused an international pandemic. Clinicians treating COVID-19 patients face considerable danger of occupational exposure because of the highly infectious nature of the virus, and precautions must be taken to prevent medical staff infections. This article lists important measures that may save the lives of patients and medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and help stop the transmission of COVID-19 on hospital grounds. The suggestions include establishing detailed infection control and prevention protocols in the operating room; expediting testing procedures and patient screening for COVID-19; using case-specific treatment planning for vascular patients with COVID-19, favoring minimally invasive methods; and establishing and reinforcing protective awareness of medical personnel.