Impact of SARS CoV-2 Pandemic on Surgical Volume & Outcomes – A Single Surgical Unit Experience From a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: COVID 19 impacts the outcome of surgical patients. In this study we have evaluated the impact of COVID-19 and nation-wide lockdown on the volume of surgeries being performed as well the surgical outcomes in both COVID and non-COVID patients in a single surgical unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital in India.Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients from single surgical unit in a tertiary care teaching hospital was done. The number of patients who underwent surgery between Jan 2020 to Dec 2020 were included and compared to number of patients operated between Jan 2019 to Dec 2019. The patients operated in 2020 were further categorized into those operated during the period of national lockdown and those operated before and after the lockdown was lifted. SARS COV-2 diagnosis was made using RTPCR/CBNAAT testing on oral and nasopharyngeal swabs. The outcomes of COVID positive patients were compared with non-COVID patients operated during the study period.Results: A total of 629 cases were operated between Jan 2020 to Dec 2020. There was significant reduction in number of cases performed compared to same time period in previous year (Jan 2019 to Dec 2019) in which 2023 cases were operated. There was also a significant reduction in number of both elective and emergency cases (502 vs 1811- 79.8% vs 89.5% and 127 vs 212- 20.2% vs 10.5%, pConclusion: COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown drastically decreased the volume of surgery and significantly increased the perioperative morbidity and mortality.Funding Information: All authors have no financial disclosure.Declaration of Interests: All authors have no conflict of interest.Ethics Approval Statement: This study was conducted after approval from Institute Ethics Committee (IECPG-657/25.11.2020).