Published online May 25, 2021. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v10.i3.130
Peer-review started: January 6, 2021
First decision: January 25, 2021
Revised: February 3, 2021
Accepted: March 31, 2021
Article in press: March 31, 2021
Published online: May 25, 2021
Processing time: 132 Days and 2.9 Hours
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, represents a major challenge to health care systems both globally and regionally, with many opting by cancelling elective surgeries. Cardiac operations in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have been imperative due to their emergency nature, critical condition of patients awaiting cardiac surgery, and accumulated number of cardiac surgical interventions throughout the last months.
Here we describe three COVID-19 positive cases who underwent coronary surgery, on an urgent basis. We did not experience worsening of the patients’ clinical condition due to COVID-19 and therefore a routine post-operative chest X-ray (CXR) was not required. None of the health care providers attending the patients endured cross infection. Further trials would be needed in order to confirm these results.
While the pandemic has adversely hit the health systems worldwide, cardiac surgical patients who concomitantly contracted COVID-19 may undergo a smooth post-operative course as a routine post-operative CXR may not be required.
Core Tip: Routine chest radiology is considered one of the core components of the post-operative care in cardiac surgery settings, there may be additional benefits in patients with associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection to check the possible lung involvement. However, we found that routine chest radiology may not be required for post-operative care in COVID-19 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This may reduce overall costs and radiographer’s unnecessary exposure.