SARS-CoV-2 During Abdominal Operations: Are Surgeons at Risk?

Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2021 Jun 29;31(6):674-678. doi: 10.1097/SLE.0000000000000971.

Abstract

Background: The safety of surgery in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive patients remains unclear. On the basis of data from other viral diseases, it has been assumed that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has the potential risk of transmission during surgery. The presence of the virus within the peritoneal fluid and the peritoneal tissues is not known.

Materials and methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study including adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 who underwent surgery at a single institution. Using specific real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 was determined in abdominal fluid samples.

Results: Six patients with COVID-19 underwent abdominal surgery. Five patients were asymptomatic, and 1 had severe disease. SARS-CoV-2 was tested in 20 different samples, all of which resulted negative.

Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 was not found in the peritoneal cavity of 6 patients undergoing abdominal surgery. The risk of transmissibility of COVID-19 during surgery is still unclear.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Humans
  • Peritoneum
  • Prospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Surgeons*