Dismal outcome if delayed cardiac surgery because of coronavirus disease 2019. (15th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ivert, Torbjörn; Dalén, Magnus
• Is Part Of: Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. Volume 35:Number 2(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-15
• Subjects: Coronavirus disease 2019 -- Cardiac surgery -- Delayed treatment; Chest -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.1
• DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivac072
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1569-9293

Abstract

Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was a great burden for health care worldwide. We encountered 21 non-infected adult patients during 2020 who deferred to seek medical treatment since they thought that their difficulties to breathe were due to COVID-19. They were diagnosed late with cardiac disease with the indication for surgery. Deferred surgery for aortic stenosis was the cause of death in 1 patient. Long-standing not-treated endocarditis had caused severe aortic root pathology in 3 patients. Late-diagnosed ST-elevation myocardial infarction in 2 patients had caused papillary muscle and ventricular wall rupture. Eighteen of the patients finally underwent heart surgery at our tertiary care centre with early mortality of 22%. We conclude that late diagnosis of subjects requiring surgical treatment for heart disease was a risk for dismal outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Abstract : Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes an infectious syndrome [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] sometimes manifested by severe acute hypoxic respiratory failure that may require long hospitalization in vulnerable individuals with often fatal outcomes [1].