SARS-CoV-2 Testing of Aerosols Emitted During Pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery: A Prospective, Case-Controlled Study.
Am Surg
; 88(11): 2710-2718, 2022 Nov.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1685817
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant safety concerns for healthcare providers, especially those performing aerosol-generating procedures. Several surgical societies issued early warnings that aerosols generated during minimally invasive surgery (MIS) could harbor infectious quantities of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study tested the hypothesis that MIS-aerosols contain SARS-CoV-2.METHODS:
To evaluate SARS-CoV-2 presence in aerosols emitted during intracavitary MIS, children <18 years who required emergent MIS and were discovered to be SARS-CoV-2-positive were enrolled. Swabs were obtained from the port in-line with a filtered smoke evacuation system, the tubing adjacent to this port, the fluid collection chamber and filter, and the distal endotracheal tube (ETT). All swabs were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. To evaluate viral distribution in tissues, fluorescence in situ hybridization for SARS-CoV-2 was performed on resected specimens. Outcomes were recorded, and participating healthcare workers were tracked for SARS-CoV-2 conversion.RESULTS:
From July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, 11 children requiring emergent MIS were discovered preoperatively to be SARS-CoV-2 positive (median age 14 years [5-17]). SARS-CoV-2 was detected only in ETT swabs and not in surgical aerosols or specimens. Median operative time was 56.5 minutes (IQR 46-66), and postoperative stay was 21.2 hours (IQR 1.97-57.57). No complications or viral eruption were recorded, and none of 63 healthcare workers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 6 weeks.DISCUSSION:
SARS-CoV-2 was detected only in ETT secretions and not in surgical aerosols or specimens among a pediatric cohort of asymptomatic patients having emergent MIS.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Am Surg
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
00031348211067707
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