Resource: Evaluating Postoperative Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Elective Procedures in an Ambulatory Surgery Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Source: Aesthetic Surgery Journal
Synopsis: A total of 300 consecutive elective cases in an ASC in Dallas, TX between March 1, 2020 and April 16, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed in this study. The median age of the cohort and procedure time was 54.6 years and 47 minutes, respectively. The most common anesthesia modalities were intravenous sedation (56.3%), followed by general anesthesia (32%), monitored anesthesia care (8%), and blocks (2.7%). The mean follow-up time was 6 weeks postoperatively. The most common procedures were:
- Pain management – 43%
- GI – 26%
- Aesthetic – 14%
- Orthopedic – 10.3%
- Reconstructive – 4%
- Otorhinolaryngology – 2%
- Gynecology - .67%
The primary outcomes were occurrence of COVID-19 related postoperative complications which included pneumonia, stroke, myocardial infarction, and clotting disorders. In the cohort of 300 elective cases, no patients were found with COVID-19 related symptoms postoperatively.
Comment: No COVID-19 related complications were identified in a cohort of 300 patients who underwent elective procedures at an ASC following a strict preoperative screening protocol. This study suggests that with careful preoperative screening and patient selection with specific assessment, elective procedures can be performed safely for patients and healthcare personnel in an ambulatory surgery center during this pandemic.
