Thoracic Surgical Challenges in the COVID-19 Patients in Basrah City

Abstract

Background: Numerous studies have discussed the reshuffling of surgical procedures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there's limited information on the number of operations, case distribution, or the ability of The Department of Thoracic Surgery to provide surgeries during this period.

 Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the surgical logbook at the Department of Thoracic in the designated COVID-19 Al-Sader hospital. This involved analyzing the logbook and addressing our responses during the pandemic. Additionally, a predictive model was set up to study the surgeries that were postponed due to the outbreak.

Results: Fifty-two cases of COVID-19 were divided into three main groups depending on the method and type of treatment chest tube (pneumothorax), Thoracotomy (pneumothorax), conservative (subcutaneous emphysema), taking into account Smokers, patients with Hypertension and chronic kidney disease ( CKD), the age and sex of the patient, and these effects were studied on the degree of infection, the method of treatment and the period of improvement.

after applying the inclusion criteria ( spontaneous pneumothorax  in confirmed COVID-19 patients) and the exclusion criteria ( barotrauma and iatrogenic    pneumothorax cases were excluded) a total of 52 cases matched our criteria. Conclusions: In 52 cases, the Forty-three cases had a chest tube used and maintain oxygen saturation. the other Five abnormal cases of COVID-19 infection led to their death after chest tube operations. In the other four cases, conservative subcutaneous emphysema, chest computed tomography (CT) was performed, deterioration of hypoxia was demonstrated, and they received non-invasive mechanical ventilation.