Evaluation of perioperative safety of lung surgery for patients with COVID-19
Objective To evaluate the perioperative safety of lung surgery for patients with corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19).Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of the patients recovered from COVID-19 infection and received lung surgery from December 2022 to February 2023 in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Beijing Hospital.Patients who received lung surgery and without COVID-19 at the same time were selected as a control group.Perioperative data between the two groups were compared.Results A total of 103 patients were included with 44 males and 49 females at an average age of(62.2±12.1)years.All surgeries were performed by uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS).Among patients who recovered from COVID-19,53(51.5%)received lobectomy,30(29.1%)received segmentectomy,and 20(19.4%)received wedge resection.The interval between diagnosis of infection and lung surgery was ≤1 month in 32(31.1%)patients,and>1 month in 71(68.9%)patients.The results of virus nucleic acid test for all patients before surgery were negative.A total of 13(12.6%)patients had positive IgM,and 100(97.1%)patients had positive IgG.A total of 20 patients experienced perioperative complications(13 patients with pulmonary air leakage,3 patients with chylothorax,2 patients with atrial fibrillation,and 2 patients with severe pulmonary complications).There was one perioperative death.Comparing the patients who recovered from COVID-19 with those without COVID-19,we found no statistical difference in perioperative outcomes including surgical duration,postoperative drainage,duration of thoracic tube,and duration of postoperative stay(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in perioperative complications between the two groups(P>0.05).Multivariable logistical regression analysis demonstrated that positive IgM before surgery(OR=7.319,95%CI 1.669 to 32.103,P=0.008),and longer duration of surgery(OR=1.016,95%CI 1.003 to 1.028,P=0.013)were independent risk factors of perioperative complications for patients who recovered from COVID-19.Conclusion It is safe for patients recover from COVID-19 to receive lung surgery when symptoms disappear and the nucleic acid test turn negative.However,positive COVID-19 IgM is an independent risk factor for perioperative complications.We suggest that lung surgery could be performed when the nucleic acid test and COVID-19 IgM are both negative for patients recover from COVID-19 infection.