Demographic profile and clinical characteristics of surgical patients operated in COVID-19 operation theater in a tertiary care hospital

Background and Aim: Surgical procedures in patients with COVID-19 disease are associated with increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the demographic and clinical data of surgical patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 disease. Methods: After taking hospital ethics committee approval, medical records of surgical patients operated during the period from May 2020 to November 2020 in a COVID-19-designated tertiary care hospital of northern India were assessed. The demographic data such as age, gender, associated comorbidities, type of surgery, intraoperative complications, and data on the postoperative status of the patients were collected and analyzed. Results: Ninety-four patients underwent surgical procedures during the study period. Out of all patients, 87.2% were females. The median age of patients was 28 years (range: 1 month–59 years). The emergency cesarean section was the most common surgery performed. The subarachnoid block was the most commonly used anesthesia technique. Out of 94 patients, 70 patients were confirmed COVID-19 positive, and 24 were suspected cases. Most of the patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists II (83%) and 43.6% of patients had comorbidities. Conclusion: The cesarean section was the most commonly performed surgical procedure. The most common anesthesia technique used was the subarachnoid block. The patients operated under subarachnoid block had a better prognosis and did not require intensive care unit stays in the postoperative period.