The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges to the healthcare system worldwide. A recent study published in The Lancet by the CovidSurg Collaborative, an international research network, has revealed that Covid-19 increases the mortality risk of patients undergoing routine surgeries by a factor of twenty. The study, which involved 1,128 patient data from 235 hospitals in 24 countries, found that the mortality rate of patients with Covid-19 within the first 30 days after surgery was 23.8%, compared to the usual rate of under 1%.

According to Alfred Königsrainer, the Medical Director of the Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery at the University Hospital Tübingen, the significantly higher mortality risk is due to poorer postoperative outcomes observed in all subgroups, including emergency surgeries, minor procedures, and elective surgeries. The study also found that risk factors affecting postoperative mortality include pre-existing conditions, age, gender, and the quality of healthcare, which varies significantly between countries.

The study’s authors recommend postponing elective surgeries whenever possible, especially in countries with a high prevalence of Covid-19. However, this poses a challenge as asymptomatic Covid-19 infections are prevalent, making it difficult to exclude the virus before surgery. The study highlights the need for mass testing to mitigate the risks of the virus. Further studies are needed to determine if the findings can be applied to Germany and other countries. The study’s results underscore the importance of taking extra precautions to protect patients during the pandemic, including postponing surgeries and implementing strict infection control measures.

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