Ioannis Bountouris
This study aimed to evaluate the results of universal preoperative screening for COVID-19 in gynaecological cases operated during the outbreak at a tertiary care hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. A retrospective descriptive study was performed on all patients undergoing elective or emergency gynaecological surgery during the pandemic period in Thailand (April 15 to June 5, 2020). Results of COVID-19 screening by symptom-based screening, risk-based screening, and RT-PCR for COVID-19 were collected from electronic medical records. Of the 129 patients who had undergone gynaecological surgery, none had RT-PCR positive for COVID-19. Symptom-based screening found no symptomatic patients positive for COVID-19. Risk-based screening found 4 patients (3.1%) who were exposed to suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4 patients (3.1%) who were healthcare workers. In summary, routine preoperative RT-PCR for COVID-19 may need to be reconsidered in asymptomatic individuals in a low-incidence country in a well-controlled COVID-19 situation. . Larger studies are needed to determine the benefit of universal COVID-19 testing before surgery.
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