Pre-operative prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 in hospitals in Catalonia during the first wave after the resumption of surgical activity.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of non-essential surgical procedures in March 2020. With the resumption of surgical activity, patients undergoing surgery were one of the first population groups to be systematically tested for PCR. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers after the resumption of non-essential surgical activity. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter observational study of patients scheduled for surgery or undergoing emergency surgery in Catalonia between 20 April and 31 May 2020. The microbiological results of preoperative PCR tests and clinical records were reviewed, and an epidemiological survey was conducted on patients with positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: A total of 10,838 patients scheduled for surgery or who underwent emergency surgery were screened for COVID-19. One hundred and eighteen patients (1.09%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the 72 h prior to surgery. The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers was 0.7% (IC95%: 0.6%-0.9%). The first week of the study presented the highest prevalence of asymptomatic carriers [1.9% (CI95%:1.1%-3.2%)]. CONCLUSIONS: The low levels of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 infection obtained in the surgical population of hospitals in Catalonia after the resumption of surgical activity, shows that most patients were able to undergo surgical procedures without the risks of COVID-19 associated complications in the perioperative period.

Dynamic use of fibrinogen under viscoelastic assessment results in reduced need for plasma and diminished overall transfusion requirements in severe trauma.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in trauma management, half of trauma deaths occur secondary to bleeding. Currently, hemostatic resuscitation strategies consist of empirical transfusion of blood products in a predefined fixed ratio (1:1:1) to both treat hemorrhagic shock and correct trauma-induced coagulopathy. At our hospital, the implementation of a resuscitation protocol guided by viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHAs) with rotational thromboelastometry has resulted in a goal-directed approach. The objective of the study is twofold, first to analyze changes in transfusion practices overtime and second to identify the impact of these changes on coagulation parameters and clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that progressive VHA implementation results in a higher administration of fibrinogen concentrate (FC) and lower use of blood products transfusion, especially plasma. METHODS: A total of 135 severe trauma patients (January 2008 to July 2019), all requiring and initial assessment for high risk of trauma-induced coagulopathy based on high-energy injury mechanism, severity of bleeding and hemodynamic instability were included. After 2011 when we first modified the transfusion protocol, a progressive change in transfusional management occurred over time. Three treatment groups were established, reflecting different stages in the evolution of our strategy: plasma (P, n = 28), plasma and FC (PF, n = 64) and only FC (F, n = 42). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among groups. Progressive implementation of rotational thromboelastometry resulted in increased use of FC over time ( p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that group F had a significant reduction in transfusion of packed red blood cells ( p = 0.005), plasma ( p < 0.001), and platelets ( p = 0.011). Regarding outcomes, F patients had less pneumonia ( p = 0.019) and multiorgan failure ( p < 0.001), without significant differences for other outcomes. Likewise, overall mortality was not significantly different. However, further analysis comparing specific mortality due only to massive hemorrhage in the F group versus all patients receiving plasma, it was significantly lower ( p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Implementing a VHA-based algorithm resulted in a plasma-free strategy with higher use of FC and a significant reduction of packed red blood cells transfused. In addition, we observed an improvement in outcomes without an increase in thrombotic complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Pre-operative prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 in hospitals in Catalonia during the first wave after the resumption of surgical activity. / Prevalencia preoperatoria de portadores asintomáticos de COVID-19 en hospitales de Cataluña durante la primera ola tras el reinicio de la actividad quirúrgica.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of non-essential surgical procedures in March 2020. With the resumption of surgical activity, patients undergoing surgery were one of the first population groups to be systematically tested for PCR. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers after the resumption of non-essential surgical activity. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter observational study of patients scheduled for surgery or undergoing emergency surgery in Catalonia between 20 April and 31 May 2020. The microbiological results of preoperative PCR tests and clinical records were reviewed, and an epidemiological survey was conducted on patients with positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: A total of 10,838 patients scheduled for surgery or who underwent emergency surgery were screened for COVID-19. One hundred and eighteen patients (1.09%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the 72hours prior to surgery. The prevalence of asymptomatic carriers was 0.7% (95%CI: 0.6% - 0.9%). The first week of the study presented the highest prevalence of asymptomatic carriers [1.9% (95%CI: 1.1%-3.2%)]. CONCLUSIONS: The low levels of asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 infection obtained in the surgical population of hospitals in Catalonia after the resumption of surgical activity, shows that most patients were able to undergo surgical procedures without the risks of COVID-19 associated complications in the perioperative period.