METHODS
Analysis of all patients undergoing cardiac surgery in our centre from
March to July 2020, with focus on those diagnosed pre-operatively with
COVID-19 (either a positive nasopharyngeal swab or by changes in the
lung parenchyma on CT scan) and underwent subsequent surgery.
Our COVID-19 screening protocol consists of two consecutive
nasopharyngeal swabs for polymerase chain reaction for ribonucleic acid
(PCR-RNA) analysis by The Cobas™ SARS-CoV-2 (targeting virus Orf and E
genes and is declared positive if either target was detected; it also
reports the cycle threshold (Ct value) or the number of cycles of
amplification before the PCR product is detected as positive), a
non-contrast CT chest, lymphocyte count and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
levels [4].
Individual patient’s consent was waived by the Ethics Institutional
Board since there was no patient identifiable data.