Postoperative Outcomes of Emergent Gastrointestinal Surgical Interventions in COVID-19 Positive versus COVID-19 Negative Patients: A retrospective Study

Abstract

Introdution: The worldwide spread of Corona Virus-19 (COVID-19) since 2020 has affected healthcare systemsaround the world, this study discusses the postoperative outcomes of emergent alimentary tract interventions inCOVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative patients at the same center receiving the same standard postoperativesurgical care during the pandemic era.Aim of work: To compare the postoperative outcomes for emergent gastrointestinal surgeries in patients whotested positive for COVID-19 with those patients who tested negative for the virus and to identify the mostsignificant predictors of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 positive patients undergoing such procedures.Patients and methods: A total of 100 patient were enrolled. Preoperative data included PCR test result,CO-RAD score, pre-existed comorbidities; intraoperative data included pathologic findings and operation type; andpostoperative outcomes included hospital stay, ICU admission, sepsis, pulmonary complications, hospital mortalitythat occurred during the patient’s hospital stay and discharge mortality.Results: Respiratory failure was the most common cause of death, occurring in 15 cases; hospital mortality wassignificantly higher among COVID-19 positive group of 19 (38.0%) vs. 1 (2.0%) and overall mortality rate was 21(42.0%) vs. 1 (2.0%). Furthermore, it was found that the hospital stay was statistically longer in the COVID-19negative group.Conclusion: Compared to recent patients without COVID-19 infection, patients with COVID-19 infection who hademergent gastrointestinal surgical interventions had higher hospital mortality and overall death rates. Compared toprepandemic controls, COVID-19-negative patients who had surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic stayed in thehospital for a longer period.