The Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Disease

ABSTRACT

The impact of COVID-19 on surgical disease has been transformative. The complete extent of its impact is unlikely to be fully understood for decades to come. New surgical disease processes, many still being elucidated, have emerged as both a direct result of COVID-19, as well as sequelae from the pathophysiologic response to the disease. The most notable consequences include hypercoagulability due to COVID-19 as well as a predilection for gastrointestinal tract pathology. The perioperative sequelae of the novel COVID-19 virus on surgical disease remain unknown, but evidence suggests this disease increases perioperative risk. Perhaps just as concerning, are the economic impacts and paradigm altering consequences that have been felt. Elective surgeries ground to a halt, trauma activations experienced sharp upswings and downswings, and visits to doctors in general have taken a sharp downturn. This has led to delays in diagnosis and treatment, increases in morbidity and mortality, and dramatic changes in how surgical services around the world are run. This global pandemic will forever change how surgery is practiced and shape our profession for decades to come. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.