Postoperative COVID-19 Infection after Two Negative Preoperative Tests in a Patient Undergoing Coronary Artery, Mitral Valve, and Left Atrial Cryoablation Surgery

Benjamin Vickery1 , Taylor Jaraczewski3 , Xavier V Jean3 , Matthew Gonzalez1 , Antonio Roki3 , Paul S Pagel1 and Hossein Almassi G2*

Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA 2 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA 3 Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA

^*Correspondance to: Hossein Almassi G 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.3073

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted cardiac surgery in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers including mandated use of Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing prior to cardiac surgery to identify COVID-19 in asymptomatic patients. We describe an elderly man who underwent coronary artery, mitral valve, and left atrial cryoablation surgery after two negative preoperative COVID-19 tests within a week before surgery, but subsequently developed symptoms concerning for active COVID-19 infection with suggestive imaging findings confirmed with RT-PCR testing during the immediate postoperative period. This case illustrates the potential fallibility of preoperative RT-PCR testing for COVID-19, the need for maintaining a high index of suspicion for the infection in postoperative patients, and the importance of personal protective equipment regardless of a patient?s assumed COVID-19 status.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; RT-PCR testing; Cardiac surgery; Coronary artery disease; Mitral regurgitation

Cite the article

Vickery B, Jaraczewski T, Jean XV, Gonzalez M, Roki A, Pagel PS, et al. Postoperative COVID-19 Infection after Two Negative Preoperative Tests in a Patient Undergoing Coronary Artery, Mitral Valve, and Left Atrial Cryoablation Surgery. Clin Surg. 2021; 6: 3073..