Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on general surgical emergencies: are some emergencies really urgent? Level 1 trauma center experience.
Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg
; 47(3): 647-652, 2021 Jun.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-897943
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on general surgical emergencies as well as analyzing the effectiveness of measures taken in reducing the incidence of COVID-19 in patients and healthcare professionals.METHODS:
Patients who underwent emergency surgery between the pandemic period of March 14th to May 15th 2020 and within the same period from the previous year were reviewed retrospectively. COVID-19 incidence in patients and health professionals working in the general surgery department during these periods was questioned.RESULTS:
Demographic data were similar between the two time periods. The number of patients who underwent surgery in the pandemic group (n = 103) was lower than the control group (n = 252). There was a 59.1% reduction in emergency surgeries. The biggest decreases were the admissions of incarcerated hernia, uncomplicated appendicitis and acute cholecystitis (92%, 81.3%, 47.3%, respectively). During the pandemic, an increase was of patient rates who underwent surgery for complicated appendicitis and AMIO (p = 0.001, p = 0.019, respectively). The rate of mortality was higher in patients who underwent emergency surgery during pandemic (p = 0.049). The results of COVID-19 screening were positive in 6 (6/103, 5.82%) patients undergoing emergency surgery. None of the doctors working in the ward were infected with COVID-19 infection (0/20). The screening tests were positive in only two nurses working on the ward (2/24, 8.33%).CONCLUSION:
In this and similar pandemics, we suggest that a new algorithm is necessary to approach emergencies and the results of this study can contribute to that end.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Surgical Procedures, Operative
/
Infection Control
/
Emergencies
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S00068-020-01534-7
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS