A global study found that a “COVID-19-free” hospital area could save lives after surgery

Millions of surgeries around the world were canceled during the first wave of the pandemic because patients could become infected with COVID-19 in hospitals.

As the second wave peak approaches, new global studies suggest that hospitals need to set up a “COVID-19-free” area for surgical patients. Doing so can reduce the risk of death from serious coronavirus-related complications and lung infections.

Janet Martin, Associate Professor Western University “s Schulich School of Medicine & DentistryIs part of CovidSurg Collaborative This includes researchers working together from around the world. The team found that patients undergoing surgery for cancer had better results when surgery and hospital care were performed in the “COVID-19-free” area.

Areas without COVID-19 have improved the safety of surgery by having a strict policy that patients with COVID-19 are not mixed with those undergoing surgery. The study investigated areas without COVID-19 in both small independent hospitals and large hospitals with emergency departments and showed that it was possible to do so in all situations.

Janet Martin, PharmD, Associate Professor of Schulich Medicine Dentistry at Western University.

“When we say’COVID-free areas’, we are talking about creating a space that is immiscible with COVID patients throughout the surgical process. This includes all stages from pre-hospitalization to surgery, intensive care and the ward where the patient recovers, “says Martin. “This study shows that all hospitals should intentionally aim to have a COVID-free area for surgical patients.”

Researchers examined data from 9171 patients in 55 countries from the start of the pandemic to mid-April 2020. They found pulmonary complications (2.2% vs. 4.9%), perioperative COVID-19 (2.1% and 3.6%), and postoperative death. (0.7% vs. 1.7%) was lower in patients treated in hospitals in the “COVID-19-free” area. However, in this study, only 27% of patients were treated in these protected areas.

More than 300 million surgeries are performed each year around the world. The study found that this increases the likelihood of preventing millions of serious lung complications and deaths by setting up a dedicated COVID-19-free hospital area to protect patients undergoing surgery. I’m pointing out. In Canada alone, the introduction of a COVID-19-free surgical route can prevent complications and deaths in tens of thousands of surgical patients.

Headed by researchers at the University of Birmingham, Covid Surg Collaborative is made up of experts from more than 130 countries.group Today, the survey results Journal of Clinical Oncology, the world’s leading oncology journal.

“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 do not mix with patients requiring surgery, “said co-leader Dr. Aneel Bangu. .. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery, At the University of Birmingham.

The study, funded by the NIHR Global Health Research Unit Grant, performed elective surgery to treat suspected cancers of the intestines, esophagus, stomach, head and neck, lungs, liver, pancreas, bladder, prostate, and kidneys. It is intended for adult patients undergoing surgery. , Uterus, cervix, ovary, breast, sarcoma, brain tumor.

The data contained in this study represent a wide variety of surgery for patients of all ages, genders, and ethnicities.

The countries that participated in the survey are:Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, China, Hungary , India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Republic of Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay