Study: COVID-19 boosts risk of postoperative complications, longer hospital stays for emergency surgery patients

Editor's Note

A recent study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in India showed concurrent COVID-19 infection on patients undergoing emergency surgery resulted in notably longer hospital stays and higher rates of postoperative complications.

Published September 8 in Cureus, the retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 48 COVID-19-positive patients and 48 matched COVID-negative controls. The mean hospital stay for COVID-19-positive patients was significantly longer, averaging 13.44 days, compared to 6.63 days for the controls (P = 0.002). Furthermore, 75% of COVID-19-positive patients experienced delays in discharge, compared to only 12.5% of the control group (P ≤ 0.001). These delays were accompanied by a higher incidence of pulmonary complications, with 10.4% of COVID-positive patients developing issues such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Postoperative ICU admissions were also more frequent in the COVID-19 cohort, with 16.7% requiring intensive care compared to none in the control group.

Additionally, COVID-19-positive patients exhibited persistently elevated D-dimer levels, a marker associated with increased thrombotic risk, beyond the postoperative period. Along with the higher complication rates, researchers write this finding underscores the need for tailored perioperative strategies when managing emergency surgical patients with COVID-19. 

Overall, “These findings underscore the need for enhanced perioperative strategies and preparedness for potential future pandemics,” researchers conclude.