Natl Med J India
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Background Planned elective surgery had to be postponed for a large number of patients who tested positive for Covid-19 in the preoperative period. We aimed to assess the postoperative outcomes of patients who were operated on for elective indications, following recovery from Covid-19 infection. Methods We did a retrospective study of patients who underwent elective general surgery between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, following recovery from Covid-19. ⋯ Eighty-five (78%) patients underwent surgery following recovery from an asymptomatic Covid-19 infection and 23 (21.1%) patients following recovery from mild Covid-19 infection; 73.3% of the operations were performed following a planned delay of 2- 5 weeks from the diagnosis of Covid-19. The 30-day major postoperative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3) was 6.4%, the postoperative pulmonary morbidity was 0.9%, and there was no 30-day mortality. Conclusions Elective general surgical procedures can be done safely in patients who have recovered from asymptomatic and mild Covid-19 infection, following a minimum wait period of 2 weeks.
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Coronavirus disease has myriad manifestations and can present with predominantly extrapulmonary manifestations. We describe a 50-year-old man, a person living with HIV (PLHA), a non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, who presented with isolated severe thrombocytopenia. He was found to have immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, and showed excellent response to intravenous immunoglobulins.
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Case Reports
Impact of Covid-19 lockdown on the emotional health of schoolchildren in an urban Indian setting.
Background Public health measures taken to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic can potentially impact the mental health of children. We assessed the prevalence and risk factors for childhood depression during the Covid-19 lockdown. Methods After 100 days of lockdown, we sent a survey questionnaire by WhatsApp to parents of school-aged children (5-16 years) in Chennai. ⋯ Children who were interacting with family over 1 hour per day had a lower likelihood of depression. Conclusion Overzealous online education, lack of adequate sleep and failure to spend quality time with the family can negatively impact the mental health of children. The impact of Covid-19 on the emotional health of children should be addressed by public health policy-makers and healthcare professionals.
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Background Seroprevalence studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can provide information on the target populations for vaccination. We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence among healthcare workers (HCWs) at our tertiary care institution and to identify parameters that may affect it. Method We assessed seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 by the chemiluminescence immunoassay test among 3258 HCW in our hospital and evaluated as per gender, age, their previous Covid-19 diagnosis, role in hospital and type/risk of exposure. ⋯ Conclusion Seroprevalence in HCWs at our hospital was 46.2%. Clinical HCWs had lower seroprevalence compared to non-clinical HCWs. Previous history of Covid-19 almost doubled the seropositivity, particularly in those with current infection.
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Observational Study
Evaluation of satisfaction and reasons for participation in a Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial: A single-centre, observational study.
Background In May 2020, WHO recognized the role of extensive immunization for interrupting the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The development of such vaccines in clinical trials relies upon participants who are expected to be vested in the research process. Assessment of participant factors such as motivation and satisfaction are hence important to gauge perspective and ensure successful conduct and completion of these trials. ⋯ Results Of the 78 participants who were administered the questionnaire, two-thirds were highly satisfied with their experience at our site. Gaining access to a new vaccine was a primary motivation overall (74%) and also in graduates (p=0.03) and middle-class population (p=0.002), whereas the lower-middle class population (p<0.0001) and those educated till secondary school (p=0.003) took part due to the long wait for government-approved vaccines. Conclusion Participants in a Covid-19 vaccine trial at Mumbai were largely satisfied with the care given to them though altruism did not feature as a primary reason for participation.