Postoperative outcomes
The major finding was the in-hospital mortality rate, which was found to be significantly higher in group 2020, with 14 (13.0%) deaths versus 9 (5.2%) deaths in 2019 (p=0.037). While there was no emergency reopening for bleeding or tamponade in 2020, 8 patients required surgical revision in 2019 (4.7%)(p=0.058). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding other postoperative complications, which included: stroke, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), heart failure, acute kidney injury, atrial fibrillation, permanent pacemaker implantation, and wound infection (Table 3). All patients in the 2020 cohort tested negative for COVID-19 during hospitalization prior to operation.