Arka Publishing Company Canon Journal of Medicine 2676-5446 4 2 2023 09 23 The comparison between characteristics and outcomes of elective adult cardiac surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic and the previous year: a cross-sectional study of an early experience in a COVID-19 epicenter 62 68 180486 10.30477/cjm.2023.402130.1060 EN Alireza Omidi Farzin Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Modarres Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0000-0001-8421-7538 Shahrzad Shahrokhi Nejad Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Modarres Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0009-0002-6865-3481 Journal Article 2023 06 13 Background: COVID-19 led to an outbreak making surgeons doubt continuing elective surgeries<br />during the pandemic. There is little evidence about the outcomes of elective cardiac surgeries during<br />the pandemic. Questions exist regarding a higher prevalence of perioperative complications and mortality<br />rates. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of elective cardiac surgeries during the pandemic<br />in comparison to the previous year. Method: This cross-sectional study discusses elective<br />cardiac surgeries performed during the COVID-19 peak from March 2020 to March 2021 at the<br />Shahid Modarres Hospital and compares the outcomes (mortality, infection, and stroke) with the<br />previous year. We included all candidates over 20 years old after evaluating them for COVID-19 with<br />polymerase chain reaction and chest computed tomography scan. We collected the data from our institutional<br />database and performed data analysis. Results: We performed 184 adult open-heart surgeries<br />during the COVID-19 peak. The male-to-female ratio was 50.5% to 49.5% with a mean age of 61. 9<br />patients died in total during the peak compared to 17 patients out of 341 surgeries in the previous year.<br />2 patients were involved with sternal wound infection and 3 with stroke. We recognized no significant<br />difference in mortality, sternal wound infection, and stroke between the two periods. Conclusion:<br />Although we should consider the probable complications of the infection during the pandemic, cardiac<br />surgery can be performed safely in COVID-19 centers. Effective protocols are required to create<br />an environment free of infection to alleviate the burden of perioperative complications during this<br />period. https://www.canonjm.com/article_180486_b68e4ddb98a7cac410032cbad0740ab8.pdf