COVID-free hospital zone can prevent complications and death of cancer surgery: Study

The· Results of international research “COVID-19 (New Coronavirus Infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appearsThe “free” area of ​​the hospital can prevent tens of thousands of surgical patients from experiencing complications and deaths in Canada alone.

Researchers looked at data from 9,171 patients who underwent elective cancer surgery in 55 countries, including Canada, from the start of the coronavirus pandemic to mid-April 2020, with postoperative complications and deaths. We found that fewer patients were treated. -Called the COVID free area.

At the same time, the study found that only 27% of patients were treated in these protected areas.

“It means patients come for surgery, whether for pre-hospital screening or for moving through the operating room to a recovery area, intensive care unit, or recovery ward. That is, the complete route must be free and isolated from contact with COVID, “explained Janet Martin of Western University in London, Ontario.

“That is, this is a highly intentional COVID-free route designed specifically for surgical patients who are known to be at increased risk of adverse events if they come into contact with COVID before and after surgery.”

Martin is part of CovidSurg Collaborative By involving researchers from all over the world and having that route, he says, the risk has been reduced by about half. According to the data, pulmonary complications in the COVID-19 free zone were recorded at a rate of 2.2%, otherwise it was 4.9%, but the contraction rate of COVID-19 before and after surgery was 2.1%. However, the post-surgery mortality rate was 1.7%, but 0.7%.

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“The risk has been significantly reduced, suggesting that deliberately setting up this COVID-free route to avoid the risk of surgical patients is worth the time and resources.”

Martin said the resources needed to create such a route would vary from hospital to hospital.

“In this particular global study, the majority of hospitals achieving this COVID-free route did it within the four walls of hospitals that may be treating COVID patients. , Created a COVID-free route. Existing barriers or temporary to prevent mixed patients within the same hospital where COVID patients may come to the emergency department or be treated in a ward or ICU. Barriers have been set up, “she explained.

“Since this study was published, there will be quite a lot of activity going on in the next few days to clarify. How to actually do a COVID-free route in a hospital where COVID itself may exist. Would you like to set up? Few hospitals or cities could distinguish between COVID in one hospital and COVID-free in another, which could be in the same city area, but that was not very common. “

With more than 300 million surgeries performed each year worldwide, researchers say that a COVID-19-free route in all hospitals can prevent millions of serious complications and deaths.

CovidSurg Collaborative is headed by researchers at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom and is made up of experts from more than 130 countries.

“When healthcare providers resume selective cancer surgery, they must look to protect cancer surgery patients from harm by investing in a dedicated COVID-19 free hospital area. , Can be tailored to locally available resources so that patients treated with COVID-19 are not mixed with patients requiring surgery, “said Dr. Aneel Bangu, co-leader of Covid Surg at the University of Birmingham. I have.

The study underwent elective surgery for a variety of cancers, including intestines, esophagus, stomach, head and neck, lungs, liver, pancreas, bladder, prostate, kidneys, uterus, cervix, ovaries, breasts, sarcomas, and brain tumors. Included adult patients who have.

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