Is It Safe To Have Surgery After COVID-19 Infection?

Though surgeons are well aware of these guidelines, it’s important for patients and their family members to understand the reasoning behind a decision to delay a surgery, even for a person who feels perfectly well. “We want to provide this information to patients so they can have a discussion with their surgeons and providers,” says Roberta Hines, MD, chair of Yale Medicine’s Department of Anesthesiology. “Each decision should be made at the individual level, and we want to stress that the patient is an active participant in their care.”

For example, a patient who has cancer that requires surgery may want surgery as quickly as possible. For some, the risks of waiting to have the surgery may be greater than delaying it, while for others it may be smarter to wait. Every situation is different and what to do in a particular case is a decision that should be made jointly by patient and surgeon.

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Emergency surgeries to “save life or limb” will still be done as needed. However, says Dr. Ahuja, “Semi-elective surgery accounts for the majority of our cases, especially with cancer care. These are surgeries that don’t need to be done tonight, but there is a certain window of time. However, if someone comes to the hospital after a car accident, we won’t delay surgery because they had COVID.”

All patients must take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction, which is the most reliable of the various types of available tests) COVID-19 test before surgery. That will not change, and is key to picking up active infections [not prior ones] patients never knew they had, Dr. Ahuja adds.

The connection between COVID-19 infection and surgical complications seems logical given how research suggests a link between COVID-19 infection and inflammation. “Plus, an infection creates an inflammatory state in the body, and that can perpetuate for at least six weeks,” Dr. Ahuja explains. “So that is why we recommend delaying surgery at least six weeks, so that your body is not still dealing with the effects of the virus.”

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It’s not only the surgical procedure but the anesthesia as well that can exacerbate inflammation in the body, Dr. Hines notes.

“COVID-19 is an emerging disease and we are still learning about its acute and chronic repercussions. We initially thought it was a respiratory disease, but now we have learned about blood clots and a complex inflammatory process,” Dr. Hines adds. “Six months from now, we may have different guidelines as more information becomes available.”

Information provided in Yale Medicine articles is for general informational purposes only. No content in the articles should ever be used as a substitute for medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Always seek the individual advice of your health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition.

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