New Data Emerges on Timing of Surgery

New specific guidance is becoming available for surgeons regarding timing of elective surgery after COVID-19 infection. A recent article gives some new information, but cannot answer all questions about infection, vaccination effects, timing of surgery, and types of surgery (major versus minor, aerosol generation, and so on).

In this large study from Vanderbilt, it was estimated that there was a 1% reduction in major cardiovascular morbidity after surgery for every 10 days elapsed from symptomatic infection. There was no association between the timing of surgery and postoperative complications in patients who were asymptomatic at the time of preoperative testing. No statements could be made as to how severity of COVID-19 illness could affect these results, and the utility of preoperative testing was unclear in asymptomatic patients.