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.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergency. There is no adequate information to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute appendicitis and its surgical management. The present comparative study reports successful appendectomy and infection control in patients with appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic and last year covering the same period. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted in acute appendicitis-treated patients from 13.03.19 to 13.05.19 and from 13.03.20 to 13.05.20, respectively. RESULTS: This study included 150 patients (110 patients in 2019; 40 patients in 2020 (during COVID-19 pandemic)). The patients were named as Group A (Normal period) and Group B (Pandemic period), respectively. The groups were comparable as there was no significant difference between the mean age, mean BMI, and mean length of stay. There is a significant difference between the comorbidities of Group A and Group B (p=0.033). There was no significant difference between the laboratory and radiological findings of Group A and Group B. There was a significant difference between the perforation number of Group A and Group B (p=0.029). There was no significant difference between the needs of ICU and conversion from laparoscopic to conventional appendectomy of Group A and Group B. CONCLUSION: The findings obtained in this study suggest that late admission to the hospital caused complicated cases and made acute appendicitis management more difficult during the pandemic period, which was already a troubling period. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the principles applied to emergency surgery for infected patients should be applied to both suspected and confirmed cases.

To support the global restart of elective surgery, data from an international prospective cohort study of 8492 patients (69 countries) was analysed using artificial intelligence (machine learning techniques) to develop a predictive score for mortality in surgical patients with SARS-CoV-2. We found that patient rather than operation factors were the best predictors and used these to create the COVIDsurg Mortality Score (https://covidsurgrisk.app). Our data demonstrates that it is safe to restart a wide range of surgical services for selected patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common extra-obstetric condition requiring surgery during pregnancy. AA diagnosis is made by laboratory tests along with anamnesis and physical examination findings. Due to the physiological and anatomical changes during the pregnancy, AA diagnosis is more challenging in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant patients. The present study evaluated the significance of white blood cell counts (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) and lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) to diagnose acute appendicitis during pregnancy. METHODS:Pregnant patients admitted to General Surgery Inpatient Clinic with AA pre-diagnosis in September 2015-December 2019 period were screened using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems-10 (ICD-10) diagnosis code (K35= acute appendicitis, Z33= pregnancy), and AA patients were identified retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups. The Group I included the patients who had appendectomy due to AA and had a suppurative appendicitis diagnosis based on the pathological evaluation. On the other hand, Group II had the patients admitted as an inpatient with AA pre-diagnosis, but discharged from the hospital with full recovery without operation. Group III, i.e., the control group, on the other hand, was constituted by 32 randomly and prospectively recruited healthy pregnant women who were willing to participate in the study and who had matching study criteria among the patients followed in Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinic of our hospital. RESULTS:This study included 96 pregnant women with an average age of 29.20±4.47 years (32 healthy pregnant women, 32 pregnant women followed for acute abdominal observation and 32 pregnant women who underwent appendectomy). Of these patients, three cases who turned out not to have suppurative appendicitis (negative appendectomy) and two cases found to have perforated appendicitis based on intraoperative and histopathological evaluations were excluded from this study. The results showed that Group I patients had significantly higher WBC (p=0.001), CAR (p=0.001) and NLR (p=0.001), but significantly lower LCR values (p=0.001) compared to the Groups II and III. Besides, based on logistic regression analysis, it was revealed that higher WBC, CAR and NLR values and lower LCR values were independent variables that could be used for the diagnosis of AA in pregnant women. CONCLUSION:Considering WBC, NLR, CAR and LCR parameters in addition to medical history, physical examination and imaging techniques could help clinicians diagnose acute appendicitis in pregnant women.