Methods
This is a retrospective observational study performed in two cardiac surgery departments in Israel: the Leviev Heart Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, the largest tertiary hospital in Israel, located in the center of the country, and the Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poriya, which is located in the north of the country.
All patients undergoing cardiac surgery between March 1 and April 30 during the years 2019 and 2020 were included in the cohort. No exclusion criteria applied. The patients were divided into two groups based on the year in which they underwent surgery. The decision to investigate specifically March and April was based on the fact that the strict limitations came into force at the beginning of March and continued throughout those two months.
A careful analysis of the patients’ baseline characteristics, operative data, and postoperative outcomes, was performed by two separate researchers. The data reviewed included hospitalization records, outpatient clinic visits, and the records of local and referring physicians. Throughout the study period, all procedures were performed and completed by the same surgical and anesthesiology teams.