COVID-19 in the Perioperative Period of Cardiovascular Surgery: the Brazilian Experience.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the clinical course and outcomes of patients submitted to cardiovascular surgery in Brazil and who had developed symptoms/signs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the perioperative period. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study including 104 patients who were allocated in three groups according to time of positive real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2): group 1, patients who underwent cardiac surgery > 10 days after positive RT-PCR; group 2, patients with a positive RT-PCR within 10 days before or after surgery; group 3, patients who presented positive RT-PCR > 10 days after surgery. The primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and postoperative days of hospitalization. RESULTS: The three groups were similar with respect to age, the European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score, and comorbidities, except hypertension. Postoperative complications and death were significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1, and no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 was seen. Group 2 showed a high prevalence of surgery performed as an urgent procedure. Although no significant differences were observed in ICU length of stay, total postoperative hospitalization time was significantly higher in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 affecting the postoperative period of patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery is associated with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality. Delaying procedures in RT-PCR-positive patients may help reduce risks of perioperative complications and death.

COVID-19 in the perioperative period of cardiovascular surgery: the brazilian experience

Abstract Introduction: We investigated the clinical course and outcomes of patients submitted to cardiovascular surgery in Brazil and who had developed symptoms/signs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the perioperative period. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study including 104 patients who were allocated in three groups according to time of positive real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2): group 1, patients who underwent cardiac surgery > 10 days after positive RT-PCR; group 2, patients with a positive RT-PCR within 10 days before or after surgery; group 3, patients who presented positive RT-PCR > 10 days after surgery. The primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and postoperative days of hospitalization. Results: The three groups were similar with respect to age, the European System of Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score, and comorbidities, except hypertension. Postoperative complications and death were significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1, and no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 was seen. Group 2 showed a high prevalence of surgery performed as an urgent procedure. Although no significant differences were observed in ICU length of stay, total postoperative hospitalization time was significantly higher in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: COVID-19 affecting the postoperative period of patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery is associated with a higher rate of morbidity and mortality. Delaying procedures in RT-PCR-positive patients may help reduce risks of perioperative complications and death.

Toxoplasmose e gestação: resultados perinatais e associação do teste de avidez de IgG com infecção congênita em gestantes com IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii reagente / Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy: perinatal results and association of the IgG avidity test with congenital infection in pregnant women with positive anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM

Objetivos: verificar os desfechos perinatais em gestantes com toxoplasmose aguda e se houve associação entre os resultados dos testes de avidez para anticorpos IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii e a presença ou ausência de infecção fetal/neonatal. Métodos: um estudo transversal incluiu gestantes com diagnóstico sorológico de toxoplasmose apresentando IgM específica reagente, atendidas no Ambulatório de Gestação de Alto Risco da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, no período de novembro de 2002 a novembro de 2007. Resultados do teste de avidez de IgG demonstrando índices superiores a 30% foram considerados alta avidez, enquanto valores inferiores a 30% foram considerados baixa avidez. Definiram-se como sendo de infecção fetal e/ou neonatal os casos com resultado positivo para a reação em cadeia da polimerase no líquido amniótico ou com IgM específica para toxoplasmose reagente no sangue do recém-nascido. Resultados: considerando-se todas as gestantes referidas para o ambulatório de gestação de alto risco no período estudado, a frequência de gestantes com IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii reagente foi de 10,8% (176/1.634). A taxa de infecção congênita nessas pacientes foi de 4% (7/176). O teste de avidez de IgG foi realizado em 162 gestantes (92%), encontrando-se avidez alta em 144 (88,9%). Houve associação (p=0,003) entre avidez alta e ausência de toxoplasmose fetal/neonatal na amostra estudada, com razão de prevalência de 13,4 (intervalo de confiança [IC] 95% 2,2-86,6). O Valor preditivo positivo do teste de avidez (probabilidade de infecção congênita com avidez baixa) foi de 22% (IC 95% 6%-47%), enquanto o valor preditivo negativo (probabilidade de ausência da infecção congênita com avidez alta) foi de 98% (IC 95% 94%-99%).

Aims: To verify the perinatal outcomes in pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis, and to determine if there was association between the results of Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgG avidity test and the presence or absence of fetal/neonatal infection. Methods: A cross-sectional study included pregnant women with serological diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis (presenting a positive Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgM test) attended at the outpatient unit for high-risk pregnancy of the Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in the period from November 2002 to November 2007. Test results demonstrating IgG avidity index above 30% were considered high avidity, while values below 30% were considered low avidity. Fetal and/or neonatal infection was defined by positive result for the polymerase chain reaction in amniotic fluid, or by a positive Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgM test in the newborn?s serum. Results: Considering all pregnant women referred to the outpatient unit for high-risk pregnancy in the period of study, frequency of pregnant women with positive Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgM was 10.8% (176/1.634). The rate of congenital infection in these patients was 4% (7/176). The IgG avidity test was performed in 162 patients (92% of the 176 pregnant women with positive IgM), and the avidity was high in 144 (88.9%). There was an association (p=0.003) between high avidity and no fetal/neonatal toxoplasmosis in our sample, with a prevalence ratio of 13.4 (confidence interval [CI] 95% 2.2-86.6). The positive predictive value of the avidity test (probability of congenital infection with a low avidity) was 22% (95% 6%-47%), while the negative predictive value (probability of absence of congenital infection with a high avidity) was 98% (95% CI 94% -99%).