Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among asymptomatic patients undergoing preoperative COVID testing prior to cancer surgery: ASPECT study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic, with high rate of asymptomatic infections and increased perioperative complications, prompted widespread adoption of screening methods. We analyzed the incidence of asymptomatic infection and perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing cancer surgery. We also studied the impact on subsequent cancer treatment in those with COVID-19. METHODS: All patients who underwent elective and emergency cancer surgery from April to September 2020 were included. After screening for symptoms, a preoperative test was performed from nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs before the procedure. Patients were followed up for 30 days postoperatively and complications were noted. RESULTS: 2108 asymptomatic patients were tested, of which 200 (9.5%) tested positive. Of those who tested positive, 140 (70%) underwent the planned surgery at a median of 30 days from testing positive, and 20 (14.3%) had ≥ Grade III complications. Forty (20%) patients did not receive the intended treatment; 110 patients were retested in the Postoperative period, and 41 (37.3%) tested positive and 9(22%) patients died of COVID-related complications. CONCLUSION: Routine preoperative testing for COVID-19 helps to segregate patients with asymptomatic infection. Higher complications occur in those who develop COVID-19 in postoperative period. Prolonged delay in surgery after COVID infection may influence planned treatment.

Management of a decade-old recurrent chylothorax with breast fistulization: a case report.

Background: Chylothoraces result from traumatic or non-traumatic insult to the thoracic duct, allowing for lymph to accumulate in the chest. Patients present with increasing dyspnea and fatigue, and the diagnosis is made via chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and comparative analysis of the pleural fluid and serum. Management largely entails diet modification and drainage with or without adjunct medications, reserving pleurodesis, percutaneous duct embolization, or thoracic duct ligation for recalcitrant cases. Case Description: A 72-year-old female presented with a 10-year history of recurrent chylothorax. This was precipitated by a rib biopsy in 2013 for concerns of fibrous dysplasia, which was complicated by pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement and recurrent chylous effusion. The patient remained minimally symptomatic despite its chronicity. The lymphatic leak fistulized into her right breast in 2019 to cause significant swelling and exacerbate discomfort. Upon presentation, she noted incessant dyspnea, right arm and breast lymphedema, and exercise intolerance. Initial treatment involved placement of an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) and interventional radiology (IR)-guided thoracic duct embolization. When persistent, she proceeded with video-assisted thorascopic surgery (VATS) decortication, talc pleurodesis, and ligation of the chylous leak. She was discharged with a drain that remained for one month until sinograms displayed resolution of the effusion. Conclusions: Optimal chylothorax management remains debatable as it is understudied with few high-quality trials guiding treatment. When conservative management is unsuccessful, procedural intervention is often required to minimize morbidity and mortality. A literature review yielded sparse similarities between our case and others, highlighting the irregularity of presentation, challenges faced, and importance of a multidisciplinary approach in management.