COVID-19 Pandemic Significantly Decreases Acute Surgical Complaints.

Publication/Presentation Date

11-1-2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly reduced elective surgery in the United States, but the impact of COVID-19 on acute surgical complaints and acute care surgery is unknown.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed of all surgical consults at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in the 30 days prior to and 30 days following confirmation of the first COVID-19 patient at the institution. Consults to all divisions within general surgery were included.

RESULTS: Total surgical consult volume decreased by 43% in the post-COVID-19 period, with a significant reduction in the median daily consult volume from 14 to 8 (

CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the landscape of acute surgical complaints at our large academic hospital. An appreciation of these trends may be helpful to other Departments of Surgery around the country as they deploy staff and allocate resources in the COVID-19 era.

Volume

86

Issue

11

First Page

1492

Last Page

1500

ISSN

1555-9823

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

32862669

Department(s)

Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division

Document Type

Article

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