Acute General Surgical Emergency and COVID-19 Is a Pandemic Challenge for Surgeons: A United Kingdom-Based Practical Experience

Abstract

Transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) is a considerable risk during the perioperative period of emergency surgery. A prospective observational study was performed between March 30, 2020, and June 30, 2020, at a large District General Hospital in England. The primary outcome was perioperative COVID-19-related complications, and secondary outcome measures included incidence of COVID-19 infections among the acute surgical patients, doctors, and healthcare workers. A total of 584 patients admitted through the emergency surgical pathway and 43% (n = 253) underwent surgical intervention. Approximately 5% (n = 30) patients contracted COVID-19 during the perioperative period and 6 of them died. Eight surgical doctors and 11 theater staff were confirmed for COVID-19 by swab test. Acute surgical emergencies and perioperative management of the urgent surgical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge, but adequate preparedness and strategic plan to adjust the surgical services can reduce the exposures to this highly contagious virus.