Surgery for Thoracic Malignancies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Case-control Study Investigating the Risk for Postoperative Complications

Background The COVID-19 pandemic led to a major disturbance in the health care system. Many elective operations were postponed, including surgical oncology cases. Besides the need to contain hospital resources, this was also due to concerns about the safety to perform surgery during the pandemic and the impact of perioperative infections on postoperative outcomes. In this study we investigate the safety of surgery for thoracic malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We retrospectively analysed the outcome of surgery for thoracic malignancies during the first, second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic (from 01.01. to 30.04.2020 and from 01.01. to 30.04.2021). As a control group we included the patients who received thoracic oncology surgeries during the same period in the last 2 years before the onset of the pandemic. The primary outcome was the rate of postoperative complications. Results 236 operations were included in the pandemic group and 227 operations in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of postoperative minor complications (16.1% vs. 18.5 %, p = 0.5395) or major complications (12.2% vs. 10.13 %, p = 0.5563). The risk to develop postoperative pulmonary complications was not higher in the pandemic group (odds ratio 1.193, 95% CI 0.6515-2.203, p = 0.8232). There were 5 cases with COVID-19 infection after the operation in the pandemic group. There was no difference in the rate of postoperative mortalities (2 (0.85 %) vs. 1 (0.44 %), p > 0.9999) There was no COVID-19 related mortality. Conclusion Maintaining oncologic thoracic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic is safe, feasible and not associated with increased risks of postoperative complications or mortalities.

Automated summary

The study found that performing surgery for thoracic malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic is safe and not associated with increased risks of postoperative complications or mortalities.