Emergency Abdominal Laparoscopic Surgery During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Experience in a Private Center in Peru
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Yahaira Tatiana Carpio Colmenares1,2, Daniel Cárdenas Ruiz de Castilla3, Luis Alcides García Barrionuevo2,4
1Department of Medical Sub-Directorate, SANNA\Clínica El Golf, Lima, Peru.
Insights
Laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery for emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru was safe and effective. Patient outcomes and surgeon safety remained high, with no increase in disease severity.
Area of Science:
- General Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of elective surgeries, prioritizing emergency procedures.
- Patients undergoing surgery faced increased risks of COVID-19 infection and complications.
- Laparoscopic surgery was considered for emergency gastrointestinal procedures under strict safety guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To compare surgical outcomes and patient severity during the pandemic versus the pre-pandemic period.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study compared 59 patients undergoing emergency laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery during the pandemic (March-June 2020) with 45 patients from the prior year (March-June 2019).
- Patient severity, surgical outcomes, and surgeon infection rates were analyzed.
- The study was conducted at a private healthcare center in Peru.
Main Results:
- No mortality or surgical reinterventions were observed in either group.
- Disease severity in emergency abdominal surgical pathologies did not increase during the pandemic.
- No surgeons at the institution contracted COVID-19 during the study period.
Conclusions:
- Laparoscopic surgery for emergency gastrointestinal conditions is a safe and effective approach during a pandemic.
- The severity of surgical abdominal pathologies did not worsen during the COVID-19 health emergency.
- Implementing safety recommendations for laparoscopic surgery protected both patients and surgical teams.
Abstract:
During the Health Emergency due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Peru, elective surgeries were suspended and only emergency surgeries were allowed. Conservative management was considered as an alternative and laparoscopic surgery was indicated following safety recommendations. Surgically operated patients were at higher risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 due to hospital exposure, being more susceptible to complications. Retrospective cohort-type analytical study that includes patients who were admitted to a private center due to an emergency and who underwent laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery during the National Health Emergency (group exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic) from March 11, 2020 to June 8, 2020 and were compared with those patients operated between March 11, 2019 and June 8, 2019 (group not exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic). A total of 104 patients were identified, 59 patients operated during the COVID-19 pandemic. All were operated by laparoscopy, both groups with a similar degree of disease severity. There was no mortality or surgical reintervention. No surgeon at the institution was infected with the virus during the study period. The degree of severity of abdominal surgical pathologies in this time of pandemic has not increased compared with the previous year. Likewise, the laparoscopic approach to emergency surgery was safe and effective during the pandemic.
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