loading page

Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Clinical Conundrum of Managing Cardiac Surgical Patients During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic
  • +2
  • Nitish Dhingra ,
  • Subodh Verma,
  • Terrence Yau,
  • Bobby Yanagawa ,
  • Makoto Hibino
Nitish Dhingra
University of Toronto

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Subodh Verma
University of Toronto
Author Profile
Terrence Yau
Toronto General Hospital
Author Profile
Bobby Yanagawa
University of Toronto
Author Profile
Makoto Hibino
University of Toronto
Author Profile

Abstract

Deferring non-emergent cardiac surgery became the strategy of choice for several international healthcare systems afflicted by high case burdens of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) in order to both conserve valuable healthcare resources and protect patients from possible exposure. Missing from the available dataset to help guide policy development has been a clear understanding of the extent to which COVID-19 infection modulates cardiac surgery outcomes. In their investigation, Bonalumi and colleagues uncovered an inpatient COVID-19 positivity rate of almost 10 times higher than that of the general Italian population, as well as a mortality rate over 20 times higher amongst cardiac surgery patients with perioperative COVID-19 infection compared to those COVID-negative. While the summation of available evidence points to the serious consideration cardiac surgeons must give to delaying surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic, recognition must be given to the risks that postponing cardiac surgery may have on patient outcomes. Emerging data is beginning to demonstrate the efficacy of vaccination in preventing postoperative COVID-19 infection and morbidity.
18 Oct 2021Submitted to Journal of Cardiac Surgery
18 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
18 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
18 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Jan 2022Published in Journal of Cardiac Surgery volume 37 issue 1 on pages 174-175. 10.1111/jocs.16111