It is recommended that people who have recently had Covid-19 in the UK wait at least 7 weeks before undergoing surgery. Experts plan to make the necessary updates by following the data about the Omicron variant, which has become dominant.
Experts state that the first few months after catching the coronavirus are more risky in terms of health and immunity, and such an application was started as a precaution, as there may be problems in the post-operative recovery process.
Experts, who say that in some emergency situations, surgeries can still be performed earlier than 7 weeks, recommend that patients who will undergo surgery have all Covid-19 vaccines.
According to this new application, which was recommended by surgeons and anesthesiologists and published in the scientific journal Anesthesia, surgery in the first 6 weeks of the healing process of infected people can lead to complications. This also applies to asymptomatic patients.
Experts also say that people who catch Covid-19 should not be operated on, as there is a possibility of transmitting the virus to others in the first 10 days.
Data is pre-Omicron
These new recommendations are based on data collected prior to the Omicron variant. Experts continue to collect data on the Omicron variant, and according to the findings, it is possible to relax the rules.
Experts point out that it is a good sign that many people have been infected with the virus before and have gained immunity because there are various vaccines.
President of the Society of Anesthesiologists, Dr. “Patients are disappointed. As healthcare professionals, we want to fulfill our duty as soon as we think it’s safe,” said Mike Nathanson.
Nathanson continued his words about the Omicron variant, which is thought to be milder: “We wonder what the new data show at this time when the Omicron variant is dominant and most patients are vaccinated.”
President of the Federation of Surgical Specialist Associations and one of the experts who wrote these recommendations, Prof. Duncan Summerton stressed the need for “honest and complete information sharing” between patients and doctors about delaying surgery.