Evaluation of the Pandemic Normalization Process in Pediatric Surgery Operations: Tertiary Center Experience

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate pandemicinormalization process in pediatric surgery operations. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary center. In our study, 917 individuals were included. It was defined as the period between June 2020, when normalization was announced after the first wave of the Coronavirusidisease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic in our country, and November 2020, when the second wave of measures began [Group 1 (n=393,42.7%)]. One year later was defined as the second period [Group 2 (n=525, 57.3%)], corresponding to the same time period (June 2021-November 2021). Results: The median age of Group 1 was 5 years and Group 2 was 6 years (p <0.001). Emergency surgery was more common in Group 2 (31.1% vs 35.4%). General anesthesia is the most commonly perfomed anesthesia method in both groups (98.5% vs 97.3%). Abdominal operations were the most common in both groups (48% vs 49%). While the rate of laparoscopic surgery was 62% in Group 1, it was 62.1% in Group 2. A statistically significant difference was detected in preoperative COVID-19 polymeraseichain reaction (PCR) test examination Group 2 and postoperative COVID-19 PCR test examination Group 1. Lymphocyte and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum markers were similar between groups. There was no difference between the need for intensive care unit/postanesthesia care unit and mortality rates. Conclusion: Although the number of pediatric surgical operations decreased during the normalization period, a successful process was managed in terms of the quality and results of the cases.