Keywords
Emergency
surgery
anaesthesiology
management
medicine
education
Coronavirus disease 2019
emergency operations
general surgery
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: In the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic, our research delved into a less-explored area-the impact on injury-related emergency department (ED) visits. We were particularly interested in the management of trauma patients who also tested positive for COVID-19, and whether urgent surgeries for fractures (spine, hip, ankle, etc.) were advisable.
Osteoporotic vertebral fractures adversely impact the quality of life and also increase the risk of infection and mortality. In some series, surgical management in Coronavirus-19 positive patients with skeletal injuries was accomplished with patient anticoagulation, hematologic, and pulmonary status in mind.
Our approach was proactive, with therapeutic anticoagulation and patient hematologic status being optimized prior to the operating room. This was to minimize the development of venous thromboembolism and avoid the need for blood transfusion. Despite the postponement of elective operations in general surgery clinics, we ensured that non-deferrable operations such as emergency trauma, acute abdominal, and cancer surgeries continued.
Our goal was to share the emergency and non-deferrable elective surgery cases from our hospital's general surgery clinic during the pandemic. We aimed to identify the general surgery patients that pose the most significant risk for healthcare workers who served these patients, and to share our experiences in these challenging situations. This sharing of experiences is crucial in building a supportive community in the medical field.
Conclusion: The ability to maintain functional surgery departments during challenging times, such as a pandemic, is a crucial aspect of health systems. We believe that the insights from our study will not only help reduce in-hospital transmission and prevent disease transmission to healthcare personnel but also equip surgical teams to identify patient groups at higher risk of infection during operations. These findings are invaluable for future pandemic preparedness.
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