Vascular Care Services during the Covid-19 Pandemic in a South Asian Country: Implications for Limb Salvage

Abstract

Objective: Covid-19 continues its negative impact on limb salvage in patients with limb ischemia and vascular trauma. Bangladesh fought the 1st and 2nd waves of the Covid-19 pandemic during April through August, 2020 and in April-May, 2021, respectively. Infections have been rising once again since early June 2021 to reach a positivity rate over 30%. With limited resources, vascular surgical care during the pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge for a developing country like Bangladesh. As a small vascular community, we have adopted a strategy focused on conserving essential resources including manpower while delivering essential vascular care. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of our pandemic-time guideline-based working strategy with a focus on limb salvage. Methods: Essential vascular services were provided by customized teams throughout the Covid-19 pandemic at two referral centers according to our working guidelines. Data were analyzed and key limb salvage outcomes compared between the two pandemic waves by chi-square test. Results: A total of 1792 vascular surgical cases were addressed during the pandemic- over 90% of which involved limb or life-saving procedures. Overall mortality was 0.6% and overall limb salvage rate for acute and Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia (CLTI) were 95.3% and 76.8%, respectively. Limb salvage rate for CLTI was significantly higher in the 2nd wave compared with the 1st (P<0.05). Rate of Covid-19 infection among vascular workforce was about 20%. Conclusion: Emergency-focused altered working guideline has produced satisfactory results in terms of continuing emergency vascular services, improving limb salvage and safeguarding vascular workforce during Covid-19 pandemic in a developing country. Conservation of resources including manpower remains relevant in the context of a highly probable 3rd wave of infection.