OBJECTIVES: Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), all health services worldwide underwent profound changes, leading to the suspension of many elective surgeries. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of elective colorectal surgery during the pandemic. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study. Patients who underwent elective colorectal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 10 and September 9, 2020, were included. Patient data on sex, age, diagnosis, types of procedures, hospital stay, mortality, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) preoperative screening tests were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 103 colorectal surgical procedures were planned, and 99 were performed. Four surgeries were postponed due to positive preoperative screening for SARS-CoV-2. Surgical procedures were performed for colorectal cancer (n=90) and inflammatory bowel disease (n=9). Laparoscopy was the approach of choice for 43 patients (43.4%), 53 (53.5%) procedures were open, and 3 (3%) procedures were robotic. Five patients developed COVID-19 in the postoperative period, and three of them died in the intensive care unit (n=3/5, 60% mortality). Two other patients died due to surgical complications unrelated to COVID-19 (n=2/94, 2.1% mortality) (p<0.01). Hospital stay was longer in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection than in those without (38.4 versushttps://doi.org/10.3 days, respectively, p<0.01). Of the 99 patients who received surgical care during the pandemic, 94 were safely discharged (95%). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that elective colorectal surgical procedures may be safely performed during the pandemic; however, preoperative testing should be performed to reduce in-hospital infection rates, since the mortality rate due to SARS-CoV-2 in this setting is particularly high.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar se o conteúdo de gordura e o valor energético estimado no colostro diferem em função da idade gestacional e do crescimento fetal. Métodos: Estudo transversal com mães de recém-nascidos pré-termo e a termo nascidos em centro terciário em 2015-2016. Critério de inclusão: gestação única, sem diabetes, corioamnionite e mastite, sem uso de drogas ilícitas e álcool, ausência de malformação ou infecção congênita fetal. Foram constituídos quatro grupos conforme idade gestacional e crescimento fetal: pré-termo pequeno para a idade gestacional (n=33); pré-termo adequado (n=60); a termo pequeno (n=59) e a termo adequado para a idade gestacional (controle, n=73). O colostro foi coletado por extração manual entre 24 e 72 h pós-parto. Foram analisadas variáveis gestacionais e de nascimento. Os desfechos foram o conteúdo de gordura no colostro, pelo método do crematócrito, e o valor energético estimado. Na comparação entre grupos foram utilizados os testes do qui-quadrado ou Exato de Fisher, ANOVA e regressão linear multivariada. Resultados: A idade gestacional média foi de 34 semanas nos neonatos pré-termo e 39 semanas nos a termo. O crematócrito não diferiu entre os grupos, com valores médios de 3,3 a 4,0%; e o valor energético estimado foi de 52 a 56 kcal/dL. Crematócrito ≥4% foi mais frequente no grupo a termo pequeno para idade gestacional. Apenas no grupo de recém-nascidos pré-termo pequenos para a idade gestacional houve correlação entre crematócrito e índice de massa corpórea materno. Conclusões: O conteúdo de gordura e o valor energético estimado do colostro não diferiram em função da idade gestacional e do crescimento fetal.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine whether fat content and energy value change in colostrum according to gestational age and fetal growth. Methods: Cross-sectional study with mothers of preterm and term infants born in a tertiary center in 2015-2016. Inclusion criteria: single pregnancy, absence of diabetes, chorioamnionitis and mastitis, no use of illicit drugs or alcohol, without fetal congenital malformation or infection. Four groups were formed according to gestational age and fetal growth: preterm infants small for gestational age (PT-SGA; n=33) and appropriate for gestational age (PT-AGA; n=60), term infants small for gestational age (T-SGA; n=59) and appropriate for gestational age (T-AGA; control, n=73). Colostrum was collected between 24-72 hours postpartum. Gestational and birth variables were analyzed. Outcome variables were: fat content in colostrum (evaluated by crematocrit method) and estimated energy value. Chi-square or Fisher exact tests, ANOVA, and multivariable linear regression were used for comparison among groups. Results: Mean gestational age was 34 weeks in preterm infants and 39 weeks in term neonates. Crematocrit did not differ between groups, with mean values varying between 3.3 and 4.0%; estimated energy value was 52 to 56 kcal/dL. Crematocrit ≥4% was more frequent in the T-SGA group. Only in the PT-SGA group there was a correlation between crematocrit and body mass index of the mother. Conclusions: The fat content and energy value of colostrum did not change according to gestational age or fetal growth.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: O índice de complicações pós-operatórias é maior em pacientes com doença de Crohn do que em outras cirurgias abdominais decorrentes de outras afecções benignas. A prevenção e o manejo de tais complicações constituem importante fator no tratamento desses pacientes. OBJETIVO: Os objetivos deste trabalho são analisar a taxa de complicações pós-operatórias e os principais fatores de risco em pacientes portadores de doença de Crohn. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo e retrospectivo, baseado na análise dos prontuários dos pacientes com doença de Crohn submetidos a ressecções ileais e/ou colônicas, analisando as principais complicações cirúrgicas e os principais fatores de risco relacionados as mesmas. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 44 procedimentos cirúrgicos em 37 pacientes. A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo feminino (56,7%). Complicações pós-operatórias foram observadas em 18 (40,9%) cirurgias. A duração da doença (P=0,04), o comportamento penetrante (P=0,013), o tempo entre o diagnóstico e a primeira cirurgia (P=0,04), a desnutrição com baixo índice de massa corpórea (IMC), o tempo de duração da cirurgia (P=0,016), e o tamanho do espécime retirado (P=0,014) estiveram associados a maiores taxas de complicações. O uso de fármacos bloqueadores do fator de necrose tumoral até oito semanas antes da cirurgia não foi significativamente associado a maiores taxas de complicações ou a maior necessidade de reoperação. CONCLUSÃO: A taxa de complicações observadas neste trabalho é semelhante aos dados da literatura. A duração da doença, o comportamento penetrante, o tamanho do espécime retirado, o tempo de duração da cirurgia e o IMC são importantes fatores de risco para complicações peri-operatórias em doença de Crohn.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The post-operative complications rate is greater in patients with Crohn’s disease than in other abdominal surgeries due to other benign conditions. Prevention and management of such complications are important factors in the care of these patients. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this research are to analyze the rate of postoperative complications and the major risk factors in patients with Crohn’s disease. METHODS: A descriptive and retrospective study based on analysis of medical records of patients with Crohn’s disease undergoing ileal and/or colonic resection, which analyzed the main surgical complications and their major risk factors. RESULTS: Forty-four surgical procedures and thirty-seven patients were analyzed. Most were female (56.7%). Postoperative complications were observed in 18 (40.9%) surgeries. The disease duration (P=0.04), the penetrating behavior (P=0.013), the time between diagnosis and the first surgery (P=0.04), malnutrition with low body mass index (BMI), duration of surgery (P=0.016), and the size of the removed specimen (P=0.014) were associated with higher rates of complications. The use of drugs blocking tumor necrosis factor up to eight weeks before surgery was not significantly associated with higher complications rates or increased need for reoperation. CONCLUSION: The complication rate observed in this study is similar to published data. The duration of the disease, the penetrating behavior, the size of the removed specimen, the duration of the surgery, and BMI are important risk factors for perioperative complications in Crohn’s disease.