Performing General Surgery Emergencies Safely during COVID-19 Outbreak

Background: After the first case was diagnosed in Turkey on 11 March 2020 the decision was made by the science committee formed by the Ministry of Health to establish pandemic hospitals across the country. Herein, we aimed to evaluate management of the patients who required urgent intervention and/or surgery at the general surgery ward during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in a pandemic hospital. The medical records of patients requiring urgent surgical intervention and of trauma patients admitted to the general surgery outpatient clinic between 11 March 2020 and 11 May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Descriptive statistics were calculated, including means, standard deviations, medians, minimums, maximums, frequencies and ratios. Results: A total of 48 patients were included in the study. Thirty (62.5%) patients were male and 18 (37.5%) were female. Their mean age was 50.3 +/- 19 (range 13 - 93) years, with 13 (27%) patients being 65 years old or older. In the preoperative period, only one patient (2%) was suspected of COVID-19. On the other hand, four (8%) patients had a suspicion in the postoperative period. All of them discharged uneventfully. Mortality occurred in 5 patients (10%) who had undergone due to trauma (2), perforation (2) and ischemia (1). None of the deceased patients had suspected COVID-19. No suspected case of COVID-19 was observed during the 14-day follow-up period after discharge. Conclusion: Patients who needs emergency surgery should be intervened without delay during the pandemic. Possible COVID-19 should be considered for each patient and preoperative preparations should be carried out with a multidisciplinary approach that involves infectious diseases and anesthesia teams.