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Pre-operative assessment of pediatric congenital heart disease patients in the COVID-19 era: lessons learned

Part of: Surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2021

Nour K. Younis ,
Rana O. Zareef ,
Marwa A. Diab ,
Omar El Sedawi ,
Issam M. El-Rassi ,
Fadi Bitar Open the ORCID record for Fadi Bitar [Opens in a new window]  and
Mariam Arabi Open the ORCID record for Mariam Arabi [Opens in a new window]
Nour K. Younis
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Rana O. Zareef
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Marwa A. Diab
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Omar El Sedawi
Affiliation:
Pediatric Department, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Issam M. El-Rassi
Affiliation:
Surgery Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Fadi Bitar
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon Pediatric Department, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Mariam Arabi*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon Pediatric Department, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
*
Author for correspondence: Mariam Arabi, Pediatric Department, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Director of the Fetal Heart Program, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Cairo Street, Hamra, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon. Tel: +961 1 350000; Fax: 00961-1-370781. E-mail: ma81@aub.edulb
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Abstract

Background:

Equal to COVID-19 patients, non-COVID-19 patients are affected by the medical and social drawbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant reduction in elective life-changing surgeries has been witnessed in almost all affected countries. This study discusses an applicable and effective pre-operative assessment protocol that can be applied during the COVID-19 era.

Methods:

Our study is a descriptive retrospective observational study that involves children with CHD requiring open-heart surgeries at our tertiary care centre between March and November, 2020. We reviewed the charts of eligible patients aged 18 years and below. We identified the total numbers of scheduled, performed, and postponed surgeries, respectively. A thorough description of the clinical and physical presentation of the postponed cases, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, is provided.

Results:

Sixty-eight open-heart surgeries were scheduled at our centre between March and November, 2020. Three surgeries (4%) were postponed due to COVID-19. The three patients were asymptomatic COVID-19 cases detected on routine SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction testing. No symptoms of cough, chest pain, dyspnea, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anosmia, and ageusia were reported by our patients. All patients were afebrile and hemodynamically stable. Owing to the pre-operative assessment protocol that was implemented after the first case was detected, only three healthcare workers were at risk of COVID-19 transmission and were imposed to infectious evaluation and home quarantine.

Conclusions:

Adopting our discussed preoperative COVID-19 assessment protocol for CHD patients is an effective method to detect COVID-19 infections, optimise patient care, and ensure healthcare workers’ safety.

Keywords

COVID-19CHDchildrenpre-operative assessmentsurgery
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , April 2022 , pp. 618 - 622
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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