The surgeon and AIDS: twenty years later

Since the first reports on indications and outcome for abdominal procedures in the HIV/AIDS patient were published 20 years ago, the epidemiology and presentation of surgical illness have changed remarkably with the advent of new antiviral regimens. A review of the now occasional, but still important, role of the surgeon in contemporary treatment of HIV/AIDS is presented.

Information was obtained by PubMed searches of medical journals, examination of reference lists, and Web resources.

Articles on operative indications, outcomes, precautions, source of transmission, and pathophysiology of HIV/AIDS were selected.

Data was obtained from peer-reviewed articles and references.

The last 2 decades have seen a decrease in operative mortality from as high as 85% to approximately 15% with a corresponding improvement in morbidity. Surgical emergencies such as appendicitis occur in HIV patients with the same frequency as non-HIV patients and are treated with equivalent results. Concern about transmission of HIV in the operating room has lessened somewhat. Although still a hazard, the probability of HIV transmission with accidental exposure is low, with risks below 0.5% for percutaneous hollow-bore needles and less than 0.1% risk for mucus membrane exposure.

Improved surgical outcomes together with of accurate data on the modes and likelihood of accidental transmission of HIV to members of the surgery team have resulted in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients becoming an accepted part of routine surgical practice.