English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Covid-19 pandemic has a devastating effect on many aspects of human life. The health care sector is the most affected, and surgical disciplines are no exception. Surgery has an essential role in human life, given its curative potential, and its dearth would cause much morbidity and even mortality in many cases. Surgery cannot wait even for a pandemic. Against this backdrop, it becomes essential to examine the effect of the pandemic on surgical disciplines. Here we study the impact of Covid-19 on the general surgery department in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS A retrospective observational study comparing data of outpatient department (OPD), admissions, and surgical activity in two different periods was done. RESULTS There was a significant impact on the number of surgical outpatients seen, admissions done, and surgeries conducted when compared between the two periods. In 2019 vs. 2020, 19,983 vs. 4481 OPD’s were seen. Similarly, 4274 admissions occurred during 2019 vs. only 506 in the 2020 period. Likewise, the impact on both elective and emergency surgery was also significant, 1102 elective surgeries were conducted in 2019. In contrast, Covid lead to complete cessation of elective surgery in 2020, increasing the risk of complication of various surgical conditions to the patients. Emergency surgeries in 2019, 694 vs. 220 in 2020 signified how the Covid pandemic had led human life to a standstill. Covid-19 pandemic resulted in abrupt cessation of various academic activities conducted in the department, but it also has seen the adoption of newer teaching methods. CONCLUSIONS Surgical care is quintessential in the fact that no other remedy can produce its results. There is no parallel. Lack of surgical care can lead to complications, avoidable morbidity, and mortality and can profoundly impact human life quality. Surgical education, which requires an apprenticeship, direct involvement, also took a hard hit, which has implications for future surgeons and patients alike. In this backdrop, our study highlights the need for more information on the future of surgical practices to make surgery safe in pandemic times. The existing lockdown had a significant impact on routine surgical practice and will require dedicated efforts for the resumption of "New Normal" in the future of all surgical disciplines. KEYWORDS Covid-19, Pandemic, Impact, Surgical Practice, Surgical Training