Peri-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30-day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30-day mortality in patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4-1.5). In patients with a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery within 0-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks and 5-6 weeks of the diagnosis (odds ratio (95%CI) 4.1 (3.3-4.8), 3.9 (2.6-5.1) and 3.6 (2.0-5.2), respectively). Surgery performed ≥ 7 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was associated with a similar mortality risk to baseline (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.5 (0.9-2.1)). After a ≥ 7 week delay in undertaking surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients with ongoing symptoms had a higher mortality than patients whose symptoms had resolved or who had been asymptomatic (6.0% (95%CI 3.2-8.7) vs. 2.4% (95%CI 1.4-3.4) vs. 1.3% (95%CI 0.6-2.0), respectively). Where possible, surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with ongoing symptoms ≥ 7 weeks from diagnosis may benefit from further delay.

SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. Since surgical patients are already at higher risk of venous thromboembolism than general populations, this study aimed to determine if patients with peri-operative or prior SARS-CoV-2 were at further increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We conducted a planned sub-study and analysis from an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of elective and emergency patients undergoing surgery during October 2020. Patients from all surgical specialties were included. The primary outcome measure was venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis) within 30 days of surgery. SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was defined as peri-operative (7 days before to 30 days after surgery); recent (1-6 weeks before surgery); previous (≥7 weeks before surgery); or none. Information on prophylaxis regimens or pre-operative anti-coagulation for baseline comorbidities was not available. Postoperative venous thromboembolism rate was 0.5% (666/123,591) in patients without SARS-CoV-2; 2.2% (50/2317) in patients with peri-operative SARS-CoV-2; 1.6% (15/953) in patients with recent SARS-CoV-2; and 1.0% (11/1148) in patients with previous SARS-CoV-2. After adjustment for confounding factors, patients with peri-operative (adjusted odds ratio 1.5 (95%CI 1.1-2.0)) and recent SARS-CoV-2 (1.9 (95%CI 1.2-3.3)) remained at higher risk of venous thromboembolism, with a borderline finding in previous SARS-CoV-2 (1.7 (95%CI 0.9-3.0)). Overall, venous thromboembolism was independently associated with 30-day mortality ). In patients with SARS-CoV-2, mortality without venous thromboembolism was 7.4% (319/4342) and with venous thromboembolism was 40.8% (31/76). Patients undergoing surgery with peri-operative or recent SARS-CoV-2 appear to be at increased risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism compared with patients with no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Optimal venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and treatment are unknown in this cohort of patients, and these data should be interpreted accordingly.

Gastrointestinal tract duplications are congenital malformations rarely seen in adulthood. Gastric duplications (GD) represent 2–9% of it. Malignant transformation of GD is a rare complication described in the literature. We present the case of a 43-year-old man, who presented an abdominal mass and an elevated CEA level. A total gastrectomy was performed and the histological examination described a gastric duplication cysts (GDC) without malignant transformation. It is not the first case of elevation of CEA in GDC without evidence of malignancy described in the literature. Some authors think that GDC are premalignant lesions that envolve with the time to carcinomas. It is recommend that once the GDC is diagnosed to remove surgically the entire cyst even if the patient is asymptomatic.

We present the case of a 71 years old woman who came at the emergency room for abdominal pain and symptoms of occlusion. The scanner demonstrated a colonic occlusion resulting from an incarceration, diagnosed as a hernia of Bochdalek. But two old rib fractures and a past history of a fall directed us to the diagnostic of delayed diaphragmatic rupture. The patient was operated in emergency and post-operative follow-up was simple. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias are rarely diagnosed directly after trauma. Complications such as pneumonia, occlusion, enteric ischemia, visceral perforation and twisting of splenic hilium can occur many years after the trauma. This is why, for patients with intestinal obstruction or association of pulmonary abdominal symptoms and history of thoraco-abdominal injury, the diagnostic of diaphragmatic hernia should be considered. When patients present complications, there is a higher rate of morbidity and mortality (31%) reason why, emergency surgery is mandatory.

Highlights SSR is an atraumatic event in which the spleen is damaged producing internal haemorrhage in the abdominal cavity. Actually the treatment of SSR is either surgical or conservative. Only few cases of radiological intervention are published in the literature. Splenic arterial embolization is a safe treatment option that allows rapid stabilization of the patient while offering both the benefits of splenectomy and conservative treatment. We present our experience of a case of SSR in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia managed by emergency embolization and elective surgery.