Table 2.
Detailed information for six MERS-related patients undergoing surgery during the MERS outbreak in our hospital.
| Patient | Sex/age | Operation name/date | Type of MERS-relation | MERS-related symptoms | MERS-CoV PCR | PPE for HCWs | Negative pressure OR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | F/67 | Explore laparotomy/June 12 | MERS-exposed (possibly) | None | Not done | Standard | No |
| B | M/12 | Craniotomy and tumor removal/June 12 | MERS-exposed (directly) | Fever | Negative twice | Enhanced | No |
| C | F/31 | VA ECMO removal/June 12 | MERS-exposed (directly) | Fever, persisting for 3 days | Negative twice | Enhanced | Yes |
| D | F/39 | Caesarean section/June 23 | MERS-confirmed and recovered | Myalgia, improving | Converted to negative, 3 days before surgery | Enhanced | Yes |
| E | M/16 | Craniotomy and tumor removal/June 24 | MERS-confirmed and recovered | None | Converted to negative, 12 days before surgery | Enhanced | Yes |
| F | F/59 | Explore laparotomy/June 25 | MERS-exposed (directly) | Fever, subsided | Negative once | Enhanced | Yes |
Enhanced PPE included PAPR from patient C. Patient F underwent emergency operation of pan-peritonitis by colon cancer perforation, and the potential MERS incubation period of 14 days was passed at the time of operation.
Abbreviations: MERS, Middle East respiratory syndrome; CoV, coronavirus; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PPE, personal protective equipment; HCW, healthcare worker; OR, operating room; VA, veno-arterial; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; PAPR, powered air purifying respirator.