Key result
In a case series of 4 patients scheduled for or undergoing elective surgery during the initial COVID-19 outbreak, 3 died from severe respiratory complications, indicating a high potential fatality rate.
Why the study?
Little was known about surgical practice during the initial phase of the COVID-19 global crisis.
Case Report (n=4)
No
Performing elective surgeries during a COVID-19 outbreak carries a high risk of severe perioperative pulmonary complications and mortality, suggesting procedures should be postponed or patients routinely screened.
May signal high perioperative mortality risk during COVID-19 outbreaks; case series leaves open need for larger studies before practice changes.
: Little is known about surgical practice in the initial phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global crisis. This is a retrospective case series of 4 surgical patients (cholecystectomy, hernia repair, gastric bypass, and hysterectomy) who developed perioperative complications in the first few weeks of COVID-19 outbreak in Tehran, Iran in the month of February 2020. COVID-19 can complicate the perioperative course with diagnostic challenge and a high potential fatality rate. In locations with widespread infections and limited resources, the risk of elective surgical procedures for index patient and community may outweigh the benefit.
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Aminian et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Perioperative complications during COVID-19 outbreak (n=4). COVID-19 infection was evaluated on Mortality. In a case series of 4 patients scheduled for or undergoing elective surgery during the initial COVID-19 outbreak, 3 died from severe respiratory complications, indicating a high potential fatality rate.
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