The Risk of Postoperative Complications After Major Elective Surgery in Active or Resolved COVID-19 in the United States

Objective: To assess the association between the timing of surgery relative to the development of Covid-19 and the risks of postoperative complications. Summary Background Data: It is unknown whether patients who recovered from Covid-19 and then underwent a major elective operation have an increased risk of developing postoperative complications. Methods: The risk of postoperative complications for patients with Covid-19 undergoing 18 major types of elective operations in the Covid-19 Research Database was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. Patients were grouped by time of surgery relative to SARS-CoV-2 infection; that is, surgery performed: (1) before January 1, 2020 (pre-Covid-19), (2) 0 to 4 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection (peri-Covid-19), (3) 4 to 8 weeks after infection (early post-Covid-19), and (4) >= 8 weeks after infection (late post-Covid-19). Results: Of the 5479 patients who met study criteria, patients with peri-Covid-19 had an elevated risk of developing postoperative pneumonia [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 6.46; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.06-10.27], respiratory failure (aOR, 3.36; 95% CI: 2.22-5.10), pulmonary embolism (aOR, 2.73; 95% CI: 1.35-5.53), and sepsis (aOR, 3.67; 95% CI: 2.18-6.16) when compared to pre-Covid-19 patients. Early post-Covid-19 patients had an increased risk of developing postoperative pneumonia when compared to pre-Covid-19 patients (aOR, 2.44; 95% CI: 1.20-4.96). Late post-Covid-19 patients did not have an increased risk of postoperative complications when compared to pre-Covid-19 patients. Conclusions: Major, elective surgery 0 to 4 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Surgery performed 4 to 8 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection is still associated with an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia, whereas surgery 8 weeks after Covid-19 diagnosis is not associated with increased complications.

Automated summary

Surgical timing relative to the development of Covid-19 is associated with the risks of postoperative complications. Patients who undergo major elective surgery within 0 to 4 weeks after Covid-19 infection have an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia, respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, and sepsis. Surgery performed within 4 to 8 weeks after infection is still associated with an increased risk of postoperative pneumonia, but surgery 8 weeks after Covid-19 diagnosis is not associated with increased complications.