A Case of Laparoscopic Colectomy after COVID-19 Pneumonia

Abstract

An 80-year-old man complaining of cough and dyspnea was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to our hospital. CT showed a mass lesion at the sigmoid-descending colon junction (SD junction), in addition to diffuse ground glass opacities in both lung fields, which was confirmed to be COVID-19 pneumonia by a PCR test. Treatment with favipiravir and steroid pulse therapy, etc. was started, and oxygenation improved. Four weeks after admission, negative PCR results were confirmed 3 times, and the patient's isolation was ended. Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed 10 weeks after admission. A 2/3-circumferential type 2 lesion was observed at the SD junction, and the biopsy showed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. After confirming a negative COVID-19 result with a PCR test 2 days before the operation, a laparoscopic colectomy was performed with extreme precautions. Histopathological findings were pT4a, pN2a (5/23), pM0, and Stage IIIb. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and no recurrence of pneumonia was observed. Additionally, no medical staff who were involved in this patient's care developed COVID-19 pneumonia.