Risk for postoperative complications remains elevated for 8 weeks after COVID-19.
More than 75 million people in the U.S. have recovered from COVID-19 and its complications. Many of these patients now are scheduled for previously delayed elective operations. In this retrospective study of more than 5000 unvaccinated patients, researchers assessed the timing of common major elective surgery (e.g., hysterectomy, knee or hip replacement, mastectomy, colorectal resection, coronary artery bypass grafting) following mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection and risk for developing postoperative complications.
Those who underwent surgery at 0 to 4 weeks after COVID-19 diagnoses had elevated risk for postoperative pneumonia (adjusted odds ratio, 6.46), sepsis (aOR, 3.67), respiratory failure (aOR, 3.36), and pulmonary embolism (aOR, 2.…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardNEJM Healer Advisory Group; Aquifer Clinical Excellence; NBME Clinical Reasoning
Grant/Research SupportSouthern Group on Educational Affairs (SGEA)
Editorial BoardsDiagnosis
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesUndergraduate Medical Education (UME) Section Chair, Southern Group on Educational Affairs (SGEA); Chair of Early Career Physicians, American College of Physicians (ACP), Virginia Chapter
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardNEJM Healer Advisory Group; Aquifer Clinical Excellence; NBME Clinical Reasoning
Grant/Research SupportSouthern Group on Educational Affairs (SGEA)
Editorial BoardsDiagnosis
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesUndergraduate Medical Education (UME) Section Chair, Southern Group on Educational Affairs (SGEA); Chair of Early Career Physicians, American College of Physicians (ACP), Virginia Chapter