Managing Emergent Surgery for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Zilun Li1, Ming Qi2, Gang Zhao3

  • 1Division of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

Insights

Managing ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) during the COVID-19 pandemic is feasible. A perioperative workflow and infection control strategy ensured effective treatment outcomes for rAAA patients.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic presents challenges for managing vascular emergencies like ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA).
  • Ensuring uncompromised treatment for rAAA during a global health crisis is crucial.
  • This study evaluates rAAA treatment outcomes and infection prevention strategies during the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effectiveness of a perioperative workflow for rAAA management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To evaluate infection prevention measures for healthcare providers and patients undergoing rAAA surgery.
  • To compare treatment outcomes of rAAA before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis of rAAA cases treated in 11 vascular centers from January to March 2020.
  • Comparison of data with the same period in 2018 and 2019.
  • Implementation of a perioperative workflow including expedited coronavirus testing and cross-infection prevention strategies.

Main Results:

  • Patient numbers for rAAA increased from 2018 to 2020, with a higher proportion treated locally.
  • Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) was the primary strategy in 2020 (85.7%), similar to previous years.
  • Surgical outcomes were not inferior to pre-pandemic levels, with reduced ICU stay and significantly lower in-hospital mortality (14.3% in 2020 vs. 37.5% in 2018).

Conclusions:

  • The implemented perioperative workflow and infection prevention strategies were effective for managing rAAA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Emergent surgical outcomes for rAAA were optimized.
  • The approach ensured the safety of healthcare providers and patients.
Abstract

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