Increased complications in patients who test COVID-19 positive after elective surgery and implications for pre and postoperative screening.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the adoption of protocols to minimize risk of periprocedural complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This typically involves a preoperative symptom screen and nasal swab RT-PCR test for viral RNA. Asymptomatic patients with a negative COVID-19 test are cleared for surgery. However, little is known about the rate of postoperative COVID-19 positivity among elective surgical patients, risk factors for this group and rate of complications.

Methods

This prospective multicenter study included all patients undergoing elective surgery at 170 Veterans Health Administration (VA) hospitals across the United States. Patients were divided into groups based on first positive COVID-19 test within 30 days after surgery (COVID[-/+

SUBMITTER: Prasad NK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8045424 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature