Hepatopancreaticobiliary Injuries During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of conservatively or surgically treated patients with hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) injuries during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The medical records of 360 patients who were asked for consultation from the emergency department between March 11, 2020 and March 31, 2021 and evaluated by a single surgeon during this period were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-three patients with HPB injuries were included in the study. Blunt abdominal trauma (47.8%) was the most common etiology of HPB injuries and the most frequently affected organ was the liver (69.6%). Eleven (47.8%) of the patients with HPB injuries were operated and 12 (52.2%) were followed conservatively. The hemoglobin value was significantly lower in the operated group (p<0.05). The World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) stage IV liver trauma was higher in the operated group. All of the ERCP-related perforations were Stapfer Type 4 and only one patient required surgery. Only 1 (4.3%) patients was COVID-19 positive at the time of first admission. No patients contracted COVID-19 during the hospitalization. Morbidity rate was 26.1% and mortality rate was 8.7% after HPB injury. Further studies are needed to reveal the relationship between HPB surgery and COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to emphasize that compliance with isolation conditions and vaccination are very important for both patients and us healthcare professionals