Surgery of COVID-19-infected Patients in Africa: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to highlight the nature and scope of research and publications about surgery in COVID-19-infected patients in Africa in order to inform guidelines applicable in Africa. Methods: We considered peer-reviewed and gray literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Word Health Organization COVID-19 online databases published from February 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, about surgery for/in COVID-19infected patients. The review is reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews. Results: Of 530 studies screened, only 11 (2.08%) were found eligible, including 4 cohort studies, 3 cross-sectional studies, 2 letters to the editor, 1 case series, and 1 review. The key emphasis areas by the eligible studies were vaccination, testing prior to surgery, clinical guidelines to reduce complications related to COVID-19 among infected patients, and protection of the surgical team. Conclusion: There is a dearth of studies on surgery in COVID-19-infected patients in Africa. There is an urgent need for more reports and publications from the African experiences so as to inform contextualized guidelines for surgical care in low-resource settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.