[Surgical care during the new coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic]

[Surgical treatment of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the results of emergency surgery in COVID-19 patients with viral pneumonia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study included 75 COVID-19 patients who underwent emergency surgical interventions. Comorbidities included cardiac diseases, nonspecific lung diseases, type 2 diabetes, kidney diseases, overweight, and cancer. Various combinations of these diseases were also noted.

RESULTS

We carried out emergency surgeries for abdominal, thoracic, soft tissue and venous diseases. Postoperative mortality was 42.6%. The best results were obtained after minimally invasive interventions without mechanical ventilation. Extended surgery with mechanical ventilation was followed by fast progression of pneumonia according to clinical and CT data.

CONCLUSION

Surgical interventions undoubtedly worsen prognosis of treatment in patients with COVID-19. Emergency minimally invasive surgery without mechanical ventilation can reduce the risk of unfavorable outcomes in patients with viral pneumonia, especially in case of concomitant cancer and other severe comorbidities.

[Post-Covid osteomyelitis of the facial bones]

The pandemic of coronavirus infection existed from 2019 to 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced on May 5, 2023 that the pandemic had ended. However, it does not cease to have an adverse effect on the health of the world population. Necrotic lesions of the bones of the facial skeleton are now a characteristic sign of a severe coronavirus infection. We conducted a review of scientific publications that reflected the relationship between coronavirus and necrotic processes of the skull bones, methods of treatment, prevention and the latest developments in this direction. The purpose of this article is to review existing studies on Post-Covid osteomyelitis of facial bones, its impact, features of the clinical picture of this disease, analysis of methods and means of treatment of this group of patients. Analysis of literature data has shown that the search for an ideal dressing material continues, especially the developments of native developers stand emphasized. The advantages of modern materials over traditional ones have become unquestionable, but further research in this direction is required.

[Clinical and economic aspects of laparoscopic surgery for acute cholecystitis in delayed presentation]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical and economic features of laparoscopic surgery for acute cholecystitis in delayed presentation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective non-randomized study (2020-2021) included 101 patients (73.2% (n=74) men and 26.8% (n=27) women, mean age 58±14.9 years) with acute cholecystitis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Cost-effectiveness analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy at various periods after clinical manifestation was performed.

RESULTS

Surgical treatment within 72 hours was performed in 15% (n=16) of cases (group 1), within 4-10 days - in 57.5% (n=58) (group 2), after 10 days - in 26.7% (n=27) of patients (group 3). Overall incidence of postoperative complications was 2.9%, postoperative mortality - 1.9% (two patients died from widespread peritonitis). Surgery time was 70 [65-83], 85 [69-110] and 115 [80-125] min (H=15.55, p<0.001), hospital-stay - 6 [5-7], 9 [7-10] and 11 [7-14] days, respectively (H=21.86, p<0.001). Cost of direct (medical and non-medical) treatment amounted to 29484 [27 509-33 885], 41265 [34 306-48 301] and 50591 [37 069-62 483] rubles, respectively (H=29.71, p<0.001)).

CONCLUSION

Delayed hospitalization and surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis after 72 hours are accompanied by higher treatment costs by 29% in the period up to 10 days and by 58% after 10 days. These results require further validation and adjustment in large samples.

[Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for surgical service]

The COVID-19 pandemic has a serious impact on surgical service, emergency and especially elective surgical care. Many hospitals were re-designated as COVID hospitals due to resource constraints and large number of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization. This led to cancellation or postponement of scheduled surgeries. In addition, restrictions in elective surgery were associated with the risk of infection in surgical patients. Various protocols and guidelines recommended non-surgical or outpatient treatment if possible. During the pandemic, postoperative morbidity and mortality in emergency surgery increased significantly. The same is true for elective surgeries in 7-8 weeks after previous coronavirus infection. The authors analyze the issues of organization, priorities for restoration of elective surgery and criteria for patient selection.

[Emergency surgery under Covid-19 pandemic and its influence on postoperative outcomes]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effectiveness of emergency surgical care under COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on postoperative outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analyzed the results of treatment of 1.749 patients who were treated from May 01 to September 30 in 2018-2020. The study group consisted of 48 COVID-19 patients with urgent surgical diseases. The control group consisted of patients with emergency surgical diseases and no coronavirus infection.

RESULTS

The new coronavirus infection significantly increases in-hospital mortality by 8 times and postoperative mortality by 6.5 times compared to pre-pandemic period.

CONCLUSION

Emergency surgical care to COVID-19 patients is accompanied by increase of in-hospital mortality up to 31.3% and postoperative mortality up to 33.3%.

[Pneumomediastinum in patients with a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the optimal management of pneumomediastinum in patients with a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 14 patients with pneumomediastinum and COVID-19 infection without mechanical ventilation. We discussed the world data on pneumomediastinum in patients with coronavirus infection.

RESULTS

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual number of own observations of spontaneous pneumomediastinum did not exceed 1-2 patients. The mechanism of pneumomediastinum is explained by the Macklin effect. COVID-19 pandemic in the Russian Federation was followed by increase of the number of patients with pneumomediastinum up to 2.4% of the total number of patients in the thoracic department. In this sample, pneumomediastinum occurred at all variants of the course of coronavirus infection. The timing of pneumomediastinum ranged from 2 to 18 (median 14) days after clinical manifestation of COVID-19. In 2 out of 14 cases, pneumomediastinum was the main symptom of coronavirus infection at admission. One patient had a combination of pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax. In 6 cases, pneumomediastinum was stable and regressed under conservative therapy. Eight patients underwent Razumovsky suprajugular mediastinotomy. There were no postoperative deaths. Recurrent pneumomediastinum was noted in one patient.

CONCLUSION

The causes of pneumomediastinum in some patients with coronavirus infection, peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment and clarification of indications for invasive interventions require further study.