Peri-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30-day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30-day mortality in patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4-1.5). In patients with a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery within 0-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks and 5-6 weeks of the diagnosis (odds ratio (95%CI) 4.1 (3.3-4.8), 3.9 (2.6-5.1) and 3.6 (2.0-5.2), respectively). Surgery performed ≥ 7 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was associated with a similar mortality risk to baseline (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.5 (0.9-2.1)). After a ≥ 7 week delay in undertaking surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients with ongoing symptoms had a higher mortality than patients whose symptoms had resolved or who had been asymptomatic (6.0% (95%CI 3.2-8.7) vs. 2.4% (95%CI 1.4-3.4) vs. 1.3% (95%CI 0.6-2.0), respectively). Where possible, surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with ongoing symptoms ≥ 7 weeks from diagnosis may benefit from further delay.

SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. Since surgical patients are already at higher risk of venous thromboembolism than general populations, this study aimed to determine if patients with peri-operative or prior SARS-CoV-2 were at further increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We conducted a planned sub-study and analysis from an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of elective and emergency patients undergoing surgery during October 2020. Patients from all surgical specialties were included. The primary outcome measure was venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis) within 30 days of surgery. SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was defined as peri-operative (7 days before to 30 days after surgery); recent (1-6 weeks before surgery); previous (≥7 weeks before surgery); or none. Information on prophylaxis regimens or pre-operative anti-coagulation for baseline comorbidities was not available. Postoperative venous thromboembolism rate was 0.5% (666/123,591) in patients without SARS-CoV-2; 2.2% (50/2317) in patients with peri-operative SARS-CoV-2; 1.6% (15/953) in patients with recent SARS-CoV-2; and 1.0% (11/1148) in patients with previous SARS-CoV-2. After adjustment for confounding factors, patients with peri-operative (adjusted odds ratio 1.5 (95%CI 1.1-2.0)) and recent SARS-CoV-2 (1.9 (95%CI 1.2-3.3)) remained at higher risk of venous thromboembolism, with a borderline finding in previous SARS-CoV-2 (1.7 (95%CI 0.9-3.0)). Overall, venous thromboembolism was independently associated with 30-day mortality ). In patients with SARS-CoV-2, mortality without venous thromboembolism was 7.4% (319/4342) and with venous thromboembolism was 40.8% (31/76). Patients undergoing surgery with peri-operative or recent SARS-CoV-2 appear to be at increased risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism compared with patients with no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Optimal venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and treatment are unknown in this cohort of patients, and these data should be interpreted accordingly.

Background and Objectives: Diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia is mostly establishedretrospectively. But it is difficult to diagnose perinatal asphyxia retrospectively in theabsence of perinatal records. As because of hypoxaemia, different organ systems ofthe body are affected in perinatal asphyxia, this study was done to assess the hepaticfunction for the diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia and to find out any correlation existingbetween hepatic enzyme change and the severity of perinatal asphyxia.Methods: A total of 70 full-term asphyxiated newborns (study group) were studiedduring January 2008 to December 2008 in the department of Paediatrics, MymensinghMedical College Hospital. After enrolment these babies were grouped according toSarnat and Sarnat stages of HIE as stage I, II and III. Another 50 healthy newbornswere also studied as reference group. Venous blood was analyzed between 2nd and5th day of life to estimate serum AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serumtotal bilirubin (STB), serum total protein (STP), serum albumin and prothrombin time(PT). Unpaired student’s 't' test and Spearman's rank correlation was used for dataanalysis and P value of <0.05 were considered significant.Results: The mean AST, ALT, ALP, STP, S. albumin and TSB of asphyxiated babieswere 76.3±37.4 U/L, 82.2±48.08 U/L, 369.6±123.05 U/L, 55.7±8.8 U/L, 32.6±5.5 g/L& 5.5±2.01mg/dL respectively and those of normal babies were 23.5±8.5 U/L, 26.5±7.8U/L, 208.2±46.9 U/L, 66.3±10.4 g/L, 40.9±6.5 g/L and 4.5±1.2 mg/dl respectively andthese differences were statistically significant (P <0.001). On the other hand nosignificant changes were noted in prothrombin time. The rise of AST, ALT, ALP andPT also showed a significant positive correlation with the severity of asphyxia and thestages of HIE.Conclusion: It is concluded that estimation of hepatic enzymes can be used todiagnose perinatal asphyxia and also to assess its severity.Key words: Alanine aminotransferase; aspartate aminotransferase; newborn; perinatalasphyxia.DOI: 10.3329/bjch.v34i1.5695Bangladesh Journal of Child Health 2010; Vol.34(1): 7-10

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Objectives: The study was done to find out the relationship between constipation andurinary tract infection (UTI) in children.Methods: The study was a case control study between two groups in a tertiary carechildren hospital in Dhaka city. In group-1 (n=45) those children having history ofconstipation and in group-2 (n=78) as a control group having no history of constipationwere included in this study. Growths of a single species of organism with colony countof >105/ml in a clean-catch midstream single urine sample was considered as evidenceof urinary tract infection.Results: Positive urine culture was found in 8.9% (4/45) cases in children who hadhistory of constipation and 1.3% (1/78) in children who had no history of constipation.Though the number of positive urine culture was seven times more in children withconstipation than those who were not constipated but the difference between the twogroups was not statistically significant (p=0.059) .Conclusion: Culture documented UTI in children with constipation is seven timesmore than without constipation showing impact of constipation on urinary tract infection(UTI) in children.Key words: Urinary tract infection (UTI); constipation.DOI: 10.3329/bjch.v34i1.5697Bangladesh Journal of Child Health 2010; Vol.34(1): 17-20