SARS-CoV-2-related outcomes after surgical procedures on SARS-CoV-2-positive patients in a large, urban, safety net medical center()

Sargent, Rachel E.; Sener, Stephen F.; Amaya, Rodolfo; Vazquez, Elizabeth; Bowdish, Michael E.; Spellberg, Brad

BACKGROUND: Beginning on March 16, 2020, non-urgent scheduled operations at a large, urban, safety net medical center were canceled. The purpose of this study was to determine complications associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection for all operations done from March 16-June 30, 2020. STUDY DESIGN: This study was a single-institution, retrospective observational analysis of data for all surgical procedures and all SARS-CoV-2 tests done in the medical center from March 16-June 30, 2020. The charts of all SARS-CoV-2-positive patients who had a surgical procedure during the study time period were retrospectively reviewed to assess the outcomes. RESULTS: Of 2,208 operations during that time, 29 (1.3%) patients were SARS-CoV-2-positive and were asymptomatic at the time of their operations. Twenty-four (82.7%) of the 29 required urgent or emergent procedures. The median time between availability of test results and operations for these patients was 0.63 + 1.94 days. With median follow-up of 89 days, none of the 29 patients died from SARS-CoV-2-related causes, and none developed clinically evident thromboembolism or required re-intubation secondary to SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia. CONCLUSION: By operating on carefully screened, asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, it was possible to eliminate major complications and mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.