Onkologische Thoraxchirurgie während der COVID-19-Pandemie: eine Fallkontrollstudie zum Risiko für postoperative Komplikationen

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Die COVID-19-Pandemie hatte, neben der offensichtlichen Bedeutung als eigenständige Erkrankung, einen schwerwiegenden Einfluss auf alle Aspekte der medizinischen Versorgung. In der onkologischen Chirurgie mussten Operationen verschoben werden oder es kam zu verzögerten Diagnosen onkologischer Erkrankungen, was neben der Sorge um unzureichende Ressourcen auch in der Unsicherheit bezüglich der perioperativen Risiken begründet lag. In dieser Studie untersuchen wir die Sicherheit der Durchführung onkologischer thoraxchirurgischer Eingriffe während der COVID-19-Pandemie.

Patienten und Methoden Es wurden retrospektiv die Ergebnisse der thoraxchirurgischen Operationen bei onkologischen Patienten am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg während der 1., 2. und 3. Welle der COVID-19-Pandemie (vom 01.01. bis 30.04.2020 sowie vom 01.01. bis 30.04.2021) untersucht. Als Kontrollgruppe wurden die im gleichen Zeitraum vor der Pandemie (2018 und 2019) durchgeführten Operationen gewählt. Der primäre Endpunkt war das Auftreten postoperativer Komplikationen.

Ergebnisse 236 Operationen in der Pandemiekohorte und 227 Operationen in der Kontrollkohorte wurden in die Studie eingeschlossen. Es gab keinen Unterschied in der Inzidenzrate von postoperativen Minor-Komplikationen (16,1% vs. 18,5%, p = 0,5395) oder Major-Komplikationen (12,2% vs. 10,13%, p = 0,5563) zwischen der Pandemiekohorte und der Kontrollkohorte. Es zeigte sich kein erhöhtes Risiko für postoperative pulmonale Komplikationen in der Pandemiekohorte (Odds Ratio = 1,193, 95%-KI= 0,6515–2,203, p = 0,8232). Eine COVID-19-Infektion nach der Operation trat bei 5 Patienten der Pandemiekohorte auf (2,29%). Die postoperative Motilität innerhalb von 30 Tagen waren vergleichbar zwischen der Pandemiekohorte und der Kontrollkohorte (2 (0,85%) vs. 1 (0,44%), p > 0,9999). Es gab keine COVID-19-infektionsbedingte Mortalität.

Schlussfolgerung Die Durchführung von onkologischen thoraxchirurgischen Operationen während der COVID-19-Pandemie ist, unter Einhaltung der entsprechenden Sicherheitsmaßnahmen, sicher und weder mit einer erhöhten Komplikationsrate noch einer erhöhten Mortalität verbunden.

Abstract

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.

Schlüsselwörter

Thoraxchirurgie - Komplikation - onkologische Thoraxchirurgie - COVID-19 - postoperative Komplikationen

Keywords

thoracic surgery - complication - surgical oncology - COVID-19 - postoperative complications

Publication History

Received: 18 August 2021

Accepted after revision: 23 October 2021

Article published online:
06 December 2021

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