Emergency Surgery in A Tertiary Hospital: The Covid-19 Experience

Authors

  • Gennaro Perrone Emergency and Trauma Surgery, Maggiore Hospital, Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43125. Italy
  • Mario Giuffrida Department of Medicine and Surgery, General Surgery Unit, University Hospital of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43125. Italy
  • Elena Bonati Department of Medicine and Surgery, General Surgery Unit, University Hospital of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43125. Italy
  • Paolo Del Rio Department of Medicine and Surgery, General Surgery Unit, University Hospital of Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43125. Italy
  • Vittoria Pattonieri Emergency and Trauma Surgery, Maggiore Hospital, Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43125. Italy
  • Antonio Tarasconi Emergency and Trauma Surgery, Maggiore Hospital, Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43125. Italy
  • Federico Coccolini General, Emergency, and Trauma Surgery Department, Pisa University Hospital, Via Paradisia 1, 56100, Pisa, Italy
  • Massimo Sartelli General and Emergency Surgery, Macerata Hospital, Via Santa Lucia 2, 62100 Macerata, Italy
  • Luca Ansaloni General, Emergency, and Trauma Surgery Department, Bufalini Hospital, Viale Giovanni Ghirotti, 286, 47521, Cesena, Italy
  • Fausto Catena Emergency and Trauma Surgery, Maggiore Hospital, Parma, via Gramsci 14, 43125. Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v19i0.48168

Keywords:

Covid-19; pandemic; emergency surgery; acute cholecystectomy; acute appendicitis

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the impact of Covid-19 in a critical area and analyze the changes in the daily activities in an Emergency Department of a tertiary COVID-Hospital.

Methods: We reported and compared the surgical procedures performed for acute appendicitis and acute cholecystitis between two periods (March and April 2019 and March and April 2020) at Emergency Surgery Department of Parma University Hospital, a tertiary COVID-Hospital.

Results: A total of 72 patients underwent surgery between March and April 2019 and 36 between March and April 2020 for acute appendicitis and cholecystitis. The average length of stay was comparable in the two considered years for LA (4.23±1.69 days in 2019 versus 4.5±2.33 days in 2020). The average length of stay in patients with acute cholecystitis was 5.9±3.8 days in 2019 and 8.23±5.5 days in 2020(P=0.038). The average hospitalization was comparable with 2019 data (5.62±3.77 days)n March 2020;whereas, April 2020 was statistically significantly longer 10.5±6 days (P= 0.023).

Conclusions: Half of the emergency centers reported a drop in the overall number of urgent cases as confirmed in our department, where the number of total appendicectomy and cholecystectomy was halved comparing the two months in 2019 and 2020, 72 operations in 2019 versus 36 operations in 2020.During the pandemic, the confidence of the population to the healthcare systems was poor, and this can explain the delayed access to the emergency department of patients who suffered from an acute illness.

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(0) 2020 p. S 66-S 68

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Published

2020-07-20

How to Cite

Perrone, G., Giuffrida, M., Bonati, E., Rio, P. D., Pattonieri, V., Tarasconi, A., Coccolini, F., Sartelli, M., Ansaloni, L., & Catena, F. (2020). Emergency Surgery in A Tertiary Hospital: The Covid-19 Experience. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 19, S 66–S 68. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v19i0.48168

Issue

Vol 19: 'Special issue on Covid 19' 2020

Section

Original Articles

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