Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Major Surgery for Cancer with COVID-19 in the Postoperative Period

The aim of our study was to report about the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent major surgery for cancer and developed COVID-19 in the postoperative period. A retrospective and observational study was done in the Surgical Oncology Division of a tertiary care cancer hospital in North-East India. The study period was from 1(st) April 2020 to 31(st) December 2021. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer who underwent a major surgery and developed COVID-19 in the postoperative period, within the same hospital stay were included in the study. Data was obtained from a prospectively maintained database and case records. Descriptive statistics were used to state the results in median values, range and percentages. A total of 22 patients developed COVID-19 in the postoperative period during the study period out of a total of 1402 patients operated during that time period (1.57%). The have been followed up for a median period of 16 months (range 2 to 18 months). The median age at presentation was 50 years (range 25 to 74 years). The incidence of co-morbidities was 27.3%. The median duration of ICU stay was 3 days (range 0 to 9 days) and median duration of hospital stay was 22 days (range 9 to 55 days).. The postoperative mortality rate was 18.2%. COVID-19 in the postoperative period in patients undergoing major abdominal and thoracic surgeries for cancer caused high postoperative mortality and prolonged hospital stay.