A Review: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing surgeries during the incubation period of COVID-19 infection by Dr Yap Yoke Yeow

JOURNAL REVIEW by Dr Yap Yoke Yeow, Consultant ENT Surgeon

Patients with Covid-19 infections (pneumonia) who had surgeries done during asymptomatic/incubation phase had very poor outcomes – 44% needed ICU care and 20.5% died.

We can infer that surgery performed on asymptomatic carriers are at high risk and would fare badly should they develop clinical infection. Patients undergoing/planned for surgery needs to be tested first to prevent these poor outcomes.

Only patients tested negative should undergo elective surgery to safeguard them from such high risks. Semiurgent cases, too, can be delayed until test results are obtained. In emergencies, knowing the Covid-19 status will help in increasing alert and early intervention to prevent poor outcomes.

Reference of the Review paper:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30075-4/fulltext

Research Paper : 

ShaoqingLeia,FangJiangb,c,WatingSua,ChangChend,JingliChene,WeiMeif,Li-YingZhana,YifanJiaa,LiangqingZhangg,DanyongLiug,Zhong-YuanXiaa,*,ZhengyuanXiab,c,g,*