Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on general surgical emergencies: Are some emergencies really urgent? Level 1 Trauma center experience

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on general surgical emergencies. On the other hand, we analyzed the effectiveness of the measures we have taken and the incidence of COVID-19 of patients and healthcare professionals.Method: In the pandemic period between March 14 and May 15, 2020, and in the same period of the previous year, the files of patients who underwent emergency surgery and followed up nonoperatively were reviewed retrospectively. The incidence of COVID-19 was questioned in patients operated on in the pandemic period and in health professionals working in the general surgery department.Results: Demographic data were similar between the two groups. The number of patients operated on in the pandemic group (n = 103) was lower than during the control group (n = 252) (p = 0.001). In the pandemic group, there was a significant decrease in the number of surgeries of uncomplicated appendicitis, acute cholecystitis and incarcerated hernia (p=0.001, p=0.005, p=0.001, respectively). Others surgeries were similar in both groups. In the pandemic group, nonoperatively follow-up rates were significantly lower in acute mechanical intestinal obstruction and acute cholecystitis (p=0.001, p=0.011, respectively). The findings of COVID-19 were positive in 6(6/103, %5.82) patients undergoing emergency surgery. None of our doctors had COVID-19 infection (0/20). The findings were positive only in 2 nurses from the general surgery department(2/24, %8,33).Conclusion: In these and similar pandemics, we think that a new algorithm is needed to approach emergencies and the results of this study can help for that.