Archives of Head and Neck Surgery
https://www.archivesheadnecksurgery.com/article/doi/10.4322/ahns.2023.0013
Archives of Head and Neck Surgery
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Complications of elective total thyroidectomies impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective cohort study

Ana Luiza Gomes Sgarbi, Bárbara Klyslie Kato, Giovana Irikura Cardoso, Yasmin Abrahão, Lara Hossepian Hojaij, Flávio Carneiro Hojaij

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Abstract

Introduction: As the SARS-CoV-2 infection spread, over 28 million elective surgeries were either canceled or postponed globally because of the pandemic, impacting the healthcare system significantly. Objective: This retrospective cohort study aims to elucidate the relationship between the pandemic and elective surgical head and neck procedures. Methods: It analyzed 80 patients who underwent elective thyroidectomies performed by the same specialized surgeon between 2020 and 2021. Data collected in this study include the Covid-19 status of patients pre- and post-operatively and the outcomes of those infected during their surgical hospitalization. Results: Notably, the findings emphasize the safety of thyroidectomy as a surgical procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic, as none of the patients presented complications during their hospital stay. Conclusion: The results are expected to shed light on the effects of coronavirus infection on surgical patients and provide strategies for optimizing patient care. These strategies include implementing testing protocols and emphasizing the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Keywords

thyroidectomy; COVID-19; elective surgical procedure

References

1. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Americas/PAHO/WHO Representation in Brazil. Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2023 Jul 03]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technicalguidance/naming-the coronavirus-disease-(covid-2019)-and-the-virus-that-causes-it Figure 2. Comparison between deferred and non-deferred thyroidectomies due to positive COVID-19 tests. Out of 80 thyroidectomy procedures, only 2 (2.5%) were deferred because of positive COVID-19 results, while the vast majority of surgeries (97.5%) proceeded as planned. Sgarbi et al. Arch Head Neck Surg. 2023;52:e20230013. 

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Submitted date:
07/03/2023

Accepted date:
08/27/2023

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