OUTCOME OF COVID-19 RELATED PRECAUTIONS AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY AT CMH OKARA

Abstract

Objective: To find out effectiveness of precautions and preventive measures against COVID-19 for emergency surgery at CMH Okara with limited resources.

Study Design: Cross sectional observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Okara, from Mar 2020 to Jun 2020.

Methodology: All emergency surgery patients were included while excluding elective cases done under spinal or general anaesthesia. The clinical symptoms along with complete blood count and X-ray chest were our method for corona screening. Personal protective measures were adopted for suspected patients who were operated in a separate room with restricted entry. The data was collected for total operated patients, suspected patients, and health care workers contracting infection. SPSS-16 was used for analysis.

Results: Four hundred and fifty (100%) emergency surgeries were performed during this study period. Twenty patients had clinical suspicion of COVID-19 and 7 patients had X-ray chest findings suggestive of COVID-19 infection. Computerized tomorgraphy scan done in 2 patients, was negative. 425 (94.4%) were operated under spinal anaesthesia whereas 25 (5.55%) patients had general anesthesia. One staff member was positive for corona after 15 days of study. All the other staff (30 health care workers) did not develop any clinical symptoms suggestive of corona.

Conclusion: Strict preventive measure, screening of patients and teaching of health care workers may help control this infection.