The severe situation of the spread of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) poses a huge challenge to the admission and management of patients undergoing selective thoracic surgery. In order to ensure that patients can receive surgical treatment in time, and we can effectively prevent the outbreak and spread of the disease in the surgical department, the department should comb the relevant content from multiple aspects in accordance with the specific situation. It is necessary to adopt a new admission process of patients undergoing selective surgery and COVID-19 investigation process for patients and their families during the epidemics. We should improve the companion and suspected patient management system during the epidemic. Patients who are planning to undergo surgery need to be strictly checked for COVID-19 infection before surgery. The treatment and management strategies of patients undergoing thoracic surgery in our department are summarized in this paper.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience in the prevention and treatment of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) in the department of thoracic surgery of large grade A tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, and to provide feasible clinical practice strategies.MethodsThe clinical data of 41 COVID-19 patients in the department of thoracic surgery of 7 large grade A tertiary hospitals in Wuhan from December 15, 2019 to February 15, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 20 surgical patients (10 males and 10 females at an average age of 54.35±10.80 years) and 21 medical personnel (7 males and 14 females at an average age of 30.38±6.23 years).ResultsThe main clinical manifestations of COVID-19 patients were fever (70.73%) and cough (53.66%). Normal or reduced peripheral white blood cells and reduced lymphocyte counts were found in the COVID-19 patients, and some patients may have increased C-reactive protein. COVID-19 patients showed limited ground-glass opacities in early chest CT, which was evident in the edge band of lung. The disease could further develop into multiple pulmonary infiltrations, and pulmonary consolidation was found in severe cases. At the time of confirmed diagnosis, most of the medical personnel were ground-glass shadows and unilateral lesions, and even no obvious abnormalities were found in the lungs. The diagnosed COVID-19 patients were transferred to the isolation ward immediately and treated according to the "Diagnosis and Treatment Program of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia", which was released by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. At the end of follow-up on February 20, 2020, seven surgical patients (35.00%) were discharged and seven (35.00%) were dead, 13 (61.90%) medical personnel were discharged and no death was found.ConclusionsOf all COVID-19 patients in the department of thoracic surgery of hospitals in Wuhan, the proportion of severe degree and mortality in surgical patients are significantly higher than that of the general population, and medical personnel are prone to nosocomial infections. Early oxygen therapy and respiratory support may improve prognosis. During the epidemic period of COVID-19, elective or limited surgery is suggested to be postponed and the indications for emergency operation should be strictly controlled. Emergency operation is suggested to be treated in accordance with tertiary prevention. On the consideration of specialty in the department of thoracic surgery, all people of the ward should be carefully investigated for infection once one case is confirmed with COVID-19. Early detection, isolation, diagnosis, and treatment are the best preventive measures to improve the prognosis of COVID-19.
At present, there has been no report in China that novel coronavirus specific immune globulin has been used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recently, we had successfully treated one COVID-19 patient with intravenous injection of human immunoglobulin (COVID-19-IVIG). The female patient, aged 57 years, had clinical diagnosis: (1) COVID-19, common type; (2) postoperative colon cancer; (3) leukopenia; (4) low cellular immunity. 75 mL COVID-19 human immunoglobulin (Sinoptic Wuhan Blood Products Co., Ltd.) was intravenously injected twice. The patient was hospitalized for 49 days and had a good prognosis.