Abstract

FLORES MANCILLA, Jeaneth  and  PACHECO MURILLO, Geraldine. IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ABDOMEN SURGERY. Rev. Méd. La Paz [online]. 2023, vol.29, n.1, pp.33-43.  Epub June 30, 2023. ISSN 1726-8958.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has led to a radical reorganization of health resources. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on abdominal surgery at IGBJ-La Paz and COSSMIL hospitals. A descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study was carried out between March to October 2019 prior to the pandemic, and March to October 2020 during the pandemic period. The study enrolled 836 patients, 563 (67.34%) in the pre-pandemic group and 273 (32.66%) in the pandemic period. Surgical procedures decreased from 2.3 to 1.2 (p=0,000), gallbladder surgeries decreased from 51.5% to 45.4%, appendiceal surgery from 84 (14.9%) to 68(24.9%). Elective procedures decreased from 331(80.7%) to 79 (19.3%), p=0.000. Laparoscopic procedures decreased from 305 (70.4%) to 107 (26.0%), p=0.000. During the pandemic, 273 patients were enrolled, of which 7 were COVID-19 positive, the most used diagnostic method for COVID-19 was chest CT and ELISA test, the most frequent risk factor was arterial hypertension 11 (4.1% ), surgical time in COVID-19 positive/negative patients was 137 min (± 30 min), postoperative days of 5.6 days in non-COVID-19 patients and 2.8 days in COVID+ patients, the latter group had complications, one patient presented wall abscess of difficult resolution, and one patient passed away. The pandemic impact was reflected in a reduction in abdominal surgery procedures, especially in elective and laparoscopic surgeries. During the pandemic, the most used diagnostic test for cOviD-19 were chest CT and ELISA test, positive COVID-19 patients had no associated morbidity, no statistical differences were found in surgical time and postoperative hospital stay days between positive/negative COVID19 patients. COVID-19+ patients presented complications.

Keywords : COVID-19; abdomen; diagnostic test.

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