Routine pre-operative Covid testing in elective surgeries: Is it worth it?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Surgical Patient Care

Background:

• Routine pre-procedural COVID-19 testing is standard for elective cases.
• Aims to mitigate risks of perioperative infection and optimize hospital resources.
• This study assesses the effectiveness of universal COVID-19 screening for elective procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of universal COVID-19 testing in patients undergoing elective procedures.
• To determine the positivity rate of COVID-19 in this specific patient population.
• To inform future testing strategies for elective surgeries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study conducted at a single institution.
• Data collected from July 2020 to August 2021.
• Included analysis of anterior nares reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results for 499 unique patients.

Main Results:

• A total of 569 RT-PCR tests were performed.
• Identified 2 (0.35%) asymptomatic, unvaccinated positive COVID-19 cases.
• Observed 13 (2.2%) overall case cancellations, with significant costs associated with testing.

Conclusions:

• The low prevalence of COVID-19 in elective procedural patients suggests a need for re-evaluation.
• Current universal testing protocols may not be cost-effective.
• Testing strategies should adapt to the evolving pandemic landscape.