Are there benefits to maintaining Covid-19 pandemic pathways for the long-term? A surgical assessment unit based study. Issue 5 (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Laskar, Naomi Simone; Hunt, Alexander; Karunaratne, Dilhara; Brooke-Ball, Hannah; Miller, Matthew.T.V.
• Is Part Of: Surgeon. Volume 19:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: e125
• Page End: e131
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Covid-19 -- Pandemic -- Surgical assessment unit -- General surgery; Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Operative -- Periodicals; 617
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surge.2020.08.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-666X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has led to the introduction of conservative non-operative approaches to surgical management favouring community driven care. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of these pathways on patients attending a surgical assessment unit (SAU). Method: This was a retrospective observational cohort study. We included all consecutive attendances to the SAU in April 2020 (Covid-19 period) and April 2019 (pre-Covid-19). The Covid-19 period saw a shift in clinical practice towards a more conservative approach to the management of acute surgical presentations. The primary outcome measure was 30-day readmission. The secondary outcome measures were length of hospital stay, inpatient investigations undertaken and 30-day mortality. Results: A total of 451 patients were included. This represented 277 and 174 attendances in pre-Covid-19, and Covid-19 groups respectively. The rates of unplanned 30-day readmission rates in the Covid-19 and pre-Covid-19 periods were 16.7% and 12.6% respectively ( P = 0.232). There were significantly fewer planned follow-ups in the Covid-19 (36.2%) compared to the pre-Covid-19 group (49.1%; P < 0.01; OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.15–2.51). There were no significant differences in length of hospital stay ( P = 0.802), and 30-day mortality rate ( P = 0.716; OR 1.9, 95% CI 0.38–9.54) between the two periods. Conclusion: There were no differences in 30-day readmission rates, length of hospital stay, and 30-day mortality with the changes to pathways. Our findings suggest the resource efficient conservative Covid-19 pathways could potentially continue long-term. However, further multi-centre studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up duration will be required to validate our findings. Highlights: Covid-19 has led to considerable adaptations in surgical management This study compared patient outcomes during pre-Covid-19 and Covid-19 eras There were far fewer investigations and planned follow ups during the Covid-19 era There was no difference in length of hospital stay, readmission or mortality rates Covid-19 resource efficient approaches can potentially be continued long term