Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 3, 2025
08:50
Technique and Patient Selection Criteria of Right Anterior Mini-Thoracotomy for Minimal Access Aortic Valve Replacement
Published on: March 26, 2018
11.8K
Decrease of surgical heart disease treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic (Cardiac Surgery COVID-19 Study - CSC 19
Radoslaw Litwinowicz1,2, Grzegorz Filip2, Boguslaw Kapelak1,2
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantology, Institute of Cardiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced cardiac surgery by 37%, leading to longer wait times and increased surgical risk for patients. Urgent procedures also rose sharply during this period.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic created knowledge gaps regarding its impact on cardiac surgery.
- Understanding these effects is crucial for patient care and healthcare system management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cardiac surgery patient characteristics, morbidity, procedures, length of stay, mortality, and outcomes between a pre-pandemic year and the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To quantify the changes in cardiac surgery volume and patient risk during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, observational, single-center study.
- Analyzed 2881 consecutive cardiac surgery patients.
- Compared data from March 1, 2019–February 29, 2020 (pre-pandemic) with March 1, 2020–February 28, 2021 (pandemic).
Main Results:
- Cardiac surgery procedures decreased by 37% during the first year of the pandemic.
- Patients experienced a 22-day longer wait for surgery and had higher surgical risk.
- Urgent procedures increased by 135% (433 vs. 184).
- No significant differences were found in surgery duration, ICU stay, or overall hospital stay.
Conclusions:
- A significant decline in cardiac surgery occurred during the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Patients faced longer waiting periods, increased surgical risk, and a higher frequency of urgent interventions.
- These findings highlight the substantial disruption to cardiac surgical services caused by the pandemic.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
27
Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy may undergo a septal myectomy (Morrow procedure). This procedure involves excising a portion of the hypertrophied septum below the aortic valve using a heart-lung machine to improve blood flow through the LVOT. Effective preoperative and postoperative nursing management ensures successful patient outcomes, minimizes complications, and...
27
01:27Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
27
Interprofessional care for coronary artery disease includes pharmacological therapy and revascularization procedures.Pharmacological therapy for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) aims to manage symptoms, prevent complications, and improve patient outcomes through various classes of medications:Antiplatelet Agents:Aspirin and Clopidogrel: These medications inhibit platelet aggregation, preventing blood clots, which is crucial for avoiding heart attacks and strokes. Doctors often prescribe these...
27
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
30
Managing cardiomyopathy involves addressing underlying or precipitating causes, treating heart failure with medications, and implementing dietary changes and a balanced exercise and rest regimen.Lifestyle ModificationsCardiomyopathy patients should adopt a low-sodium diet to reduce fluid retention and manage heart failure. A personalized exercise and rest plan helps maintain physical fitness without overstraining the heart. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco is essential to prevent further damage to...
30
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
31
Effective preventive measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) focus on controlling modifiable risk factors, including cholesterol abnormalities and lifestyle changes.Cholesterol ManagementFirst, the Mediterranean diet and the American Heart Association advocate for maintaining low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL, with a more stringent recommendation of below 70 mg/dL for individuals at high risk. LDL cholesterol, often termed "bad cholesterol," can lead to the...
31
01:21Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management
29
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) management can be divided into two main strategies: prevention and long-term management.Primary PreventionPrimary prevention focuses on timely diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis to prevent acute rheumatic fever. The most widely used antibiotic for treating this condition is intramuscular benzathine penicillin G.Acute Rheumatic Fever TreatmentThe primary treatment goal for a patient diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever is to suppress the...
29
01:26Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management
18
Mitral stenosis, a condition marked by the narrowing of the mitral valve, necessitates an integrated approach for effective management. This approach includes preventative measures, medical therapy, and surgical interventions to reduce symptoms and prevent complications.PreventionPrevention of mitral stenosis primarily focuses on reducing the incidence of bacterial infections, particularly streptococcal infections, which can lead to rheumatic fever and subsequent valvular damage. Timely...
18