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Coronaviruses

COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Neurosurgical Practices: Indian Researchers Share Insights

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from the G.B. Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in New Delhi, India, have shed light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on neurosurgical practices. Despite concerns about infection transmission among healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients, the researchers continued with emergency neurosurgeries using their own Standard Operating Procedures (NS-SOPs). A retrospective analysis revealed that while a cumulative mortality rate of 10.1% was observed, only 19 HCWs (8.83%) were infected, with only 3 (16.7%) having workplace-acquired infection.

Key Takeaways:

  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers at the G.B. Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research continued with emergency neurosurgeries, implementing their own Standard Operating Procedures (NS-SOPs) to minimize infection transmission.
  • The researchers performed neurosurgeries on 169 patients between April 1 and August 31, 2020, with a cumulative mortality rate of 17/169 (10.1%) and 5 patients experiencing unexplained postoperative respiratory manifestations and rapid deterioration suggestive of COVID illness.
  • Nineteen HCWs (8.83%) were infected, but only 3 (16.7%) had workplace-acquired infection, indicating that the implementation of standard perioperative protocols was effective in containing infection among HCWs.
  • The study found that the NS-SOPs, which included a Screening Proforma and protocols for the conduct of neurosurgery, were effective in minimizing infection transmission and improving neurosurgical outcomes.
  • The researchers emphasized the importance of implementing and continuously scrutinizing, evaluating, and modifying standard perioperative protocols to contain infection among HCWs and improve neurosurgical outcomes during the pandemic.

Statistics:

  • 169 patients underwent neurosurgery between April 1 and August 31, 2020.
  • A cumulative mortality rate of 10.1% was observed among patients.
  • 19 HCWs (8.83%) were infected, with only 3 (16.7%) having workplace-acquired infection.
  • 5 patients experienced unexplained postoperative respiratory manifestations and rapid deterioration suggestive of COVID illness.

Sources:

  • Perioperative Practices and Outcome of Neurosurgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Institutional Experience and Retrospective Observational Analysis (Indian Journal of Neurosurgery - Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.)
  • Priyanka Khurana, et al. "Perioperative Practices and Outcome of Neurosurgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Institutional Experience and Retrospective Observational Analysis." Indian Journal of Neurosurgery, 2021, doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1729463.

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