Introdution: The worldwide spread of Corona Virus-19 (COVID-19) since 2020 has affected healthcare systems
around the world, this study discusses the postoperative outcomes of emergent alimentary tract interventions in
COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative patients at the same center receiving the same standard postoperative
surgical care during the pandemic era.
Aim of work: To compare the postoperative outcomes for emergent gastrointestinal surgeries in patients who
tested positive for COVID-19 with those patients who tested negative for the virus and to identify the most
significant predictors of morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 positive patients undergoing such procedures.
Patients and methods: A total of 100 patient were enrolled. Preoperative data included PCR test result,
CO-RAD score, pre-existed comorbidities; intraoperative data included pathologic findings and operation type; and
postoperative outcomes included hospital stay, ICU admission, sepsis, pulmonary complications, hospital mortality
that occurred during the patient's hospital stay and discharge mortality.
Results: Respiratory failure was the most common cause of death, occurring in 15 cases; hospital mortality was
significantly higher among COVID-19 positive group of 19 (38.0%) vs. 1 (2.0%) and overall mortality rate was 21
(42.0%) vs. 1 (2.0%). Furthermore, it was found that the hospital stay was statistically longer in the COVID-19
negative group.
Conclusion: Compared to recent patients without COVID-19 infection, patients with COVID-19 infection who had
emergent gastrointestinal surgical interventions had higher hospital mortality and overall death rates. Compared to
prepandemic controls, COVID-19-negative patients who had surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic stayed in the
hospital for a longer period.