IMPACT OF COVID 19 ON GENERAL SURGERIES

Since the onset of pandemic, many people have avoided visiting hospitals for their check-ups and health issues because of fear and anxiety. For instance, there are cases where people with appendicitis have waited till the situation got aggravated to Renal Failure. They thought it was just a normal stomach ache and did not preferred to visit hospital and have medical opinion on their clinical condition. The fear of Covid has created significant impact on the lives of people. Out of anxiety they have been neglecting many seasonal infections & diseases. Surgeries are one of the most critical procedures which require immediate medical assistance.

There are three types of Surgeries, Elective Surgeries, Semi-emergency Surgeries & Emergency surgeries. When it comes to Elective Surgeries, depending upon the situation, we can defer surgery when the prevalence of pandemic is at its peak. But there is no second thought when it comes to Emergencies, operation has to be carried out irrespective of Covid-19. If the patient is tested positive for Covid-19, there might be some post-operative complications and patient might take little extra time to get recovered. Particularly, in the case where General Anaesthesia is administered to the patient involving lungs, severity will be on higher side. Surgeries which are performed with local anaesthesia are relatively less complicated says Dr. Lakshmikanth, MBBS, MS, Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist, Star Hospitals

Covid positive patients should take extra precautions after their surgery because their immunity levels will be less and wound healing ability will also be reduced. Patients are advised to do post-operative respiratory exercises and should maintain healthy diet. If you are vaccinated for Covid-19, you need to wait for at least 14 days from the date of vaccination for surgery. There might be some side-effects depending upon an individual’s body system, hence, we need to hold until the person gets completely recovered.

At Star Hospitals, all our staff are fully vaccinated. We have been following strict norms to ensure the safety of patients. There are two different sections for patients with Covid symptoms such as Lung Infection, Cough, Cold etc and for other general cases like trauma care or fractures to avoid the possibility of cross-infection. We bring together a dedicated team of expert physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide the highest standards of medical treatment. Our multidisciplinary services offer extensive and state-of-the-art medical care. Our full range of primary and specialty healthcare services enable cross-specialty consultation, which assures comprehensive treatment for each patient.

The medical field is constantly changing, and surgery is no exception. With new advances in technology, surgical practices have become more precise than ever before. These advancements will continue to improve patient experience and expedite the recovery process.

Book Appointment: Dr. Lakshmikanth, MBBS, MS, Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist, Star Hospitals