@article {44008,
	title = {Timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international prospective cohort study.},
	journal = {Anaesthesia},
	volume = {76},
	year = {2021},
	month = {2021 Jun},
	pages = {748-758},
	abstract = {Peri-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30-day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2\%) had a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30-day mortality in patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.5\% (95\%CI 1.4-1.5). In patients with a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery within 0-2~weeks, 3-4~weeks and 5-6~weeks of the diagnosis (odds ratio (95\%CI) 4.1 (3.3-4.8), 3.9 (2.6-5.1) and 3.6 (2.0-5.2), respectively). Surgery performed >=~7~weeks after SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was associated with a similar mortality risk to baseline (odds ratio (95\%CI) 1.5 (0.9-2.1)). After a >=~7~week delay in undertaking surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients with ongoing symptoms had a higher mortality than patients whose symptoms had resolved or who had been asymptomatic (6.0\% (95\%CI 3.2-8.7) vs. 2.4\% (95\%CI 1.4-3.4) vs. 1.3\% (95\%CI 0.6-2.0), respectively). Where possible, surgery should be delayed for at least 7~weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with ongoing symptoms >=~7~weeks from diagnosis may benefit from further delay.},
	keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Child, Preschool, Cohort Studies, Covid-19, Female, Humans, Infant, Internationality, Male, Middle Aged, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Prospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2, Surgical Procedures, Operative, time, Young Adult},
	issn = {1365-2044},
	doi = {10.1111/anae.15458}
}
