Open AccessAcute General Surgical Emergency and COVID-19 Is a Pandemic Challenge for Surgeons: A United Kingdom-Based Practical Experience
Author(s) -
Abu Kamal Nahid,
Sanjida Rahman,
Ankur Shah
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of patient experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2374-3743
pISSN - 2374-3735
DOI - 10.1177/2374373521997735
Subject(s) - medicine , perioperative , pandemic , preparedness , covid-19 , emergency medicine , observational study , incidence (geometry) , surgical emergency , acute care , medical emergency , general surgery , intensive care medicine , health care , surgery , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , physics , optics , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) is a considerable risk during the perioperative period of emergency surgery. A prospective observational study was performed between March 30, 2020, and June 30, 2020, at a large District General Hospital in England. The primary outcome was perioperative COVID-19-related complications, and secondary outcome measures included incidence of COVID-19 infections among the acute surgical patients, doctors, and healthcare workers. A total of 584 patients admitted through the emergency surgical pathway and 43% (n = 253) underwent surgical intervention. Approximately 5% (n = 30) patients contracted COVID-19 during the perioperative period and 6 of them died. Eight surgical doctors and 11 theater staff were confirmed for COVID-19 by swab test. Acute surgical emergencies and perioperative management of the urgent surgical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge, but adequate preparedness and strategic plan to adjust the surgical services can reduce the exposures to this highly contagious virus.