SARS-CoV-2–related Outcomes after Surgical Procedures on SARS-CoV-2–positive Patients in a Large, Urban, Safety Net Medical Center

Background: Beginning on March 16, 2020, nonurgent scheduled operations at a large, urban, safety net medical centerwere canceled. The purpose of this study was to determine complications associatedwith severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection for all operations done from March 16 to June 30, 2020. Study Design: This study was a single-institution, retrospective observational analysis of data for all surgical procedures and all severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 tests done in themedical center from March 16 to June 30, 2020. The charts of all severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-positive patients who had a surgical procedure during the study time period were retrospectively reviewed to assess the outcomes. Results: Of 2,208 operations during that time, 29 (1.3%) patientswere severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-positive and were asymptomatic at the time of their operations. Twenty-four (82.7%) of the 29 required urgent or emergent procedures. The median time between availability of test results and operations for these patients was 0.63 + 1.94 days. With median follow-up of 89 days, none of the 29 patients died from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-related causes, and none developed clinically evident thromboembolism or required reintubation secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-related pneumonia. Conclusion: By operating on carefully screened, asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2positive patients, it was possible to eliminate major complications and mortality due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.