P0121 Urological surgery remained safe during the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a high incidence area

ABSTRACT

Introduction & Objectives: COVID-19 incidence and mortality among patients undergoing surgery has risen concerns about surgical safety, especially during the peaks of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our objective isto describe the outcomes at theurology department of a tertiary hospital during the second wave of the pandemic and its comparison with the first one. Materials & Methods: Observational, prospective cohort study including all patients undergoing urological surgery from 1st March to 15th November. According to the hospital organization and local epidemiological situation we delimitate the first wave from 1st March to 3rd May and the second wave from 14th August to 25th October. A set of screening and protective measures was applied from 4th May onwards. Demographic, baseline, surgical and perioperative variables, as well as postoperative outcomes, were collected. Telephone follow-up was performed at least 3 weeks after hospital discharge. Results: 624 urological surgeries were performed, 26 patients developed COVID-19 (4.17% incidence) and 6 died because of the disease (23.1% mortality). Mean time to symptom onset was 62.4 days after discharge. Prognosis was worse for those patients diagnosed during admission or up st to 14 days after discharge (statistically significant variables in Table) which happened only during the 1 wave (12% incidence, 10/83). In contrast, the 2nd wave brought 2 mild community cases (1.1% incidence, 2/186). TheFigure displays the 14-day cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases in the population attended by our hospital and the operated urological patients, according to the date in which symptoms began or positive PCR was documented. (Table presented.) (Figure presented.) Conclusions: After implementing complete protective measures, no postoperative in-hospital COVID-19 cases were detected, even during the second wave. Most of the cases were due to community transmission and thus driven by the general epidemiological situation. While hospitals follow recommendations to avoid COVID-19 infection, urological surgery remains safe and can be maintained.