Journal of Chest Surgery

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (대한심장혈관흉부외과학회)
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Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiac Surgery Practice and Outcomes

  • Gopal, Kirun (Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University)) ;
  • Krishna, Neethu (Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University)) ;
  • Jose, Rajesh (Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University)) ;
  • Biju, Surya Sree Chitra (Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University)) ;
  • Pichandi, Jaya Suriya (Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University)) ;
  • Varma, Praveen Kerala (Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University))
  • Received : 2021.10.06
  • Accepted : 2021.12.13
  • Published : 2022.02.05
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Abstract

Background: While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all aspects of health care, its impact on cardiac surgical practice and outcomes is yet to be determined. We compared the outcomes of our cardiac surgical practice from the past year during the pandemic to those in a similar pre-pandemic period. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from 307 patients who were involved in all adult cardiac surgical procedures performed between March 2020 and February 2021, which was considered the pandemic period, at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, India. These were compared with data from the 1-year period between March 2019 and February 2020. During that earlier period, 491 patients underwent surgery, and the surgical outcomes were assessed. Outpatient visit data were also collected to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on outpatient follow-up visits. Results: A 37% decrease in surgical case volume was observed during the study period. No difference was found in operative mortality between the 2 time periods (3.3% vs. 2.6%, p=0.383). Overall postoperative complications were less frequent during this period, at 23% compared to 38% the previous year (p<0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a dramatic decrease in surgical volume and outpatient medical follow-up. However, the pandemic and its attendant social restrictions did not yield a significant change in the surgical outcomes of our patients. Hence, it is reasonable to continue cardiac surgical care during global health crises, and this can be done with good results.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We thank Ms. Renjitha Bhaskaran, MSc, Lecturer, Department of Biostatistics for help with the statistical analysis for this study.

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