Increased complications in patients who test COVID-19 positive after elective surgery and implications for pre and postoperative screening

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the adoption of protocols to minimize risk of periprocedural complications associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This typically involves a preoperative symptom screen and nasal swab RT-PCR test for viral RNA. Asymptomatic patients with a negative COVID-19 test are cleared for surgery. However, little is known about the rate of postoperative COVID-19 positivity among elective surgical patients, risk factors for this group and rate of complications.

Source: American Journal of Surgery - April 14, 2021 Category: Surgery Authors: Nikhil K. Prasad, Rachel Lake, Brian R. Englum, Douglas Turner, Tariq Siddiqui, Minerva Mayorga-Carlin, John D. Sorkin, Brajesh K. Lal Source Type: research