COVID-19 and Mortality in the Global Surgical Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: To date, no systematic review or meta-analysis has comprehensively estimated the risk of mortality by surgery type on an international scale. We aim to delineate the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19 who undergo surgery. METHODS: PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, OVID, the World Health Organization Global Literature on Coronavirus Disease, and Corona-Central databases were searched from December 2019 through January 2022. Studies providing data on mortality in patients undergoing surgery were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines for abstracting data were followed and performed independently by two reviewers. The main outcome was mortality in patients with COVID-19. RESULTS: Of a total of 4023 studies identified, 46 studies with 80,015 patients met our inclusion criteria. The mean age was 67 y; 57% were male. Surgery types included general (14.9%), orthopedic (23.4%), vascular (6.4%), thoracic (10.6%), and urologic (8.5%). Patients undergoing surgery with COVID-19 elicited a nine-fold increased risk of mortality (relative risk [RR] 8.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.96-16.32) over those without COVID-19. In low-income and middle-income countries (RR: 16.04, 95% CI: 4.59-56.12), the mortality risk was twice as high compared to high-income countries (RR: 7.50, 95% CI: 4.30-13.09). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality risk in surgical patients with COVID-19 compared to those without is increased almost 10-fold. The risk was highest in low-income and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries, suggesting a disproportionate effect of the pandemic on resource-constrained regions.

How I Do It: Suicidal Ideation During Surgical Training: Is an Innovative Surgical Trainee Check Ins Program a Part of the Solution?

OBJECTIVE: Mental health distress and suicidal ideation are leading contributors to the silent epidemic of physician suicide leading to approximately 300 to 400 physician deaths per year. The Second Trial has illuminated the alarming fact that several of our residents have experienced suicidal thoughts within the last year. Unfortunately, our institution is not an outlier. Suicidal ideation and under- or untreated mental health disorders are increasingly prevalent in the surgical trainee population. Given the major concern for our residents' well-being, our department consulted a licensed mental health professional familiar with resident training and the GME to develop a program to provide access to a mental health professional that is free of cost for trainees, safe and confidential. DESIGN: Implementation of a 30 minute opt-out resident check-in program with a licensed mental health professional and a post-session survey that provided retrospective survey data for analysis. SETTING: This program was implemented at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, VA. PARTICIPANTS: General surgery categorical and preliminary residents participated in this program. RESULTS: Thirty residents participated in the program and an overwhelming majority would like to continue this program at regular intervals. Sessions were 25 minutes on average and 27.7% of participants requested additional sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of this program for our surgical trainees was favorably perceived with request for continuation of the program and provided access to a safe space with a familiar provider.