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. 2024 Mar;106(3):133-139.
doi: 10.4174/astr.2024.106.3.133. Epub 2024 Feb 22.

Impact of COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery: a retrospective study

Hyo Seon Ryu  1 , Se Hoon Jung  1 , Eun Hae Cho  1 , Jeong Min Choo  1 , Ji-Seon Kim  1 , Se-Jin Baek  1 , Jin Kim  1 , Jung-Myun Kwak  1
Affiliations

Impact of COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery: a retrospective study

Hyo Seon Ryu et al. Ann Surg Treat Res. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant global casualties. This study examines the postoperative impact of COVID-19 on patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery, considering their heightened vulnerability to infections and increased morbidity and mortality risk.

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary center and patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery between January 2022 and February 2023 were included. Postoperative COVID-19 infection was defined as the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA by RT-PCR within 14 days after surgery. Propensity score matching was performed including age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology physical status classification, and emergency operation between the COVID-19-negative (-) and -positive (+) groups.

Results: Following 1:2 propensity score matching, 21 COVID-19(+) and 42 COVID-19(-) patients were included in the study. In the COVID-19(+) group, the postoperative complication rate was significantly higher (52.4% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.023). Mechanical ventilator requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and readmission rate did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. The median length of ICU (19 days vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) and hospital stay (18 vs. 8 days, P = 0.015) were significantly longer in the COVID-19(+) group. Patients with COVID-19 had a 2.4 times higher relative risk (RR) of major complications than patients without COVID-19 (RR, 2.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.254-4.467; P = 0.015).

Conclusion: COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in gastrointestinal surgery may have adverse outcomes which may increase the risk of major complications. Preoperative COVID-19 screening and protocols for COVID-19 prevention in surgical patients should be maintained.

Keywords: COVID-19; Digestive system surgical procedures; Postoperative complications; Postoperative period.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Details of postoperative complications. COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.
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