Evolutionary analysis of patient’s morbidity and mortality in emergency surgical care during the pandemic: Retrospective comparison between first and second waves of COVID-19

[Display omitted] Since the beginning of the pandemic, morbidity and mortality in emergency care of surgical patients have been the subject of several studies. However, most of these have compared this variable with that of the pre-COVID period, ignoring its evolution during the pandemic itself. In order to analyze this possible change, we performed a comparative study of morbidity and mortality in emergency surgery between the first and second waves of the pandemic in our center. Retrospective longitudinal study including all patients over the age of 18 admitted and/or operated in the emergency setting in the two maximum incidence periods (MIP) of COVID-19 infection (1st MIP: 22/03/2020-31/05/2020; 2nd MIP: 26/08/2020-30/11/2020). The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, treatment received, early morbidity and mortality and possible risk factors for complications were analyzed. A total of 173 patients were analyzed (1st MIP: 66; 2nd MIP: 107). The incidence of COVID-19 was higher in the second period (14.95% vs. 4.54%). SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a higher rate of complications; however, no statistically significant differences were observed in morbimortality rate, either in the total sample (P = .746) or in patients with a positive COVID-19 test (P = .582) between both periods. Surgical treatment was found to be associated with a lower complication rate in both the first (P = .006) and second waves (P = .014), and it was more frequent in the second MIP (70.1% vs 57.6%), although statistical significance was not reached (P = .065). No significant differences were observed in morbidity and mortality of patients admitted and/or operated in the emergency setting in the two periods of maximum incidence of SARS-CoV-2 at our center. Surgical treatment was associated with lower morbidity and mortality rates, and it was more frequent in the second MIP. Desde el comienzo de la pandemia, la morbimortalidad en la atención urgente al paciente quirúrgico ha sido objeto de estudio. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los estudios compararon dicha variable con la propia de la época pre-COVID, obviando la evolución de la misma durante la propia pandemia. Con el objetivo de analizar este posible cambio, realizamos un estudio comparativo de morbimortalidad en cirugía de urgencias entre la primera y segunda ola de la pandemia en nuestro centro. Estudio retrospectivo longitudinal que incluyó a todos los pacientes mayores de 18 años ingresados y/o intervenidos quirúrgicamen