What's the news. Patients who underwent surgery within six weeks of a SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis were at a higher risk of 30-day postoperative mortality and 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications, but these risks declined to baseline among patients who underwent surgery seven or more weeks after diagnosis, says a March 9, 2021, study in Anaesthesia. Findings were consistent among both low- and high-risk groups. The international multicenter prospective study includes findings from more than 140,000 patients who underwent surgical procedures in October 2020.

Why it matters. These guidelines can help facilities to safely resume surgery in the context of a rapidly increasing number of people who have survived SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or COVID-19, the authors say, particularly as many patients may be ready to reschedule elective operations that were canceled during the pandemic.

How ECRI can help. ECRI's COVID-19 Resource Center provides resources to help healthcare and aging services organizations protect patients, residents, and workers. The Healthcare Recovery Center—COVID-19 also offers recovery-related guidance, tools, and resources across ECRI's entire solution suite.