Surgical Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Contouring Procedures after Recovering from Previous COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence of increased postoperative complications in patients who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2. However, previous studies have not examined this effect in abdominal contouring procedures. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for all patients who underwent abdominoplasty or panniculectomy at our institution from March 2020 to November 2021. Patients were separated into cohorts via preoperative history of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Variables collected include demographic data, concurrent comorbidities, postoperative complications, readmission/reoperation, and length of stay (LOS). Parametric, nonparametric, and multivariable regression modeling was used for analysis. RESULTS: Of the 181 patients included, 14 (7.7%) had a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Average time from infection to surgery was 250 days. The mean age and Charlson comorbidity index for nonexposed and exposed patients were 45.4 and 45.9 years, and 1.24 and 1.36 points. Patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to have CKD (OR: 6.79, p = 0.017) and undergo abdominoplasties compared with panniculectomies (OR: 4.43, p = 0.039). There were no other significant differences in patient or operative characteristics between the cohorts. Compared with those with no history of infection, patients with previous infections had increased odds of postoperative complications such as delayed wound healing (OR: 27.67, p < 0.001). Subanalysis by procedure demonstrated that this observation was significant in patients undergoing abdominoplasty (OR: 19, p < 0.001) but not for those undergoing panniculectomy. CONCLUSION: Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with significant increases in postoperative complications such as delayed wound healing, even after significant time has elapsed between the initial infection and time of surgery.