THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE FUNCTIONING OF A SURGICAL CLINIC: SINGLE CENTRE EXPERIENCE IN TURKEY

Introduction: Covid-19 is a viral epidemic disease that causes serious health problems and death worldwide. The rapid expansion of Covid-19 infection led to the disruption of healthcare services and radical re-organisation of healthcare resources due to the healthcare workers' infection. Aim: This clinical study investigated the effects of Covid-19 infection on emergency and elective cases in our general surgery clinic. Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 195 patients who underwent elective (Group Elective) and emergency (Group Emergency) surgery during the Covid-19 incubation period in the Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital between March 11 - May 18, 2020. Demographic features, symptoms, surgical diagnoses, surgical methods, complications, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay and mortality, the status of Covid-19 of all patients were recorded. Results: 195 patients, including emergency and elective surgery cases, were operated on (104 and 91, respectively). The incidence of Covid-19 infection was 5.49% in patients scheduled for elective surgery and 4.8% in patients operated urgently, and all developed in the postoperative period. Two patients with emergency surgery died of respiratory failure, their mean age was 51 years. Two of 104 emergency-operated patients were positive from Covid-19 (1.92%) at the time of admission. Eighteen medical staff and nurses got Covid-19 infections. Conclusions: Due to the rapid spread of Covid-19 infection, early precautions must be taken in surgical clinics to guarantee the safety of patients all healthcare providers, and personnel.