Worse cholecystectomy outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic: were staff shortages or a change in patient case-mix the culprit?

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the field of surgery, mostly through infectious risks, staff shortages, reduced hospital capacities, and changed patient pathways. Prompted by an increase in wound complications, we performed an in-depth analysis of an example surgical procedure.

Methods: A consecutive cohort of 195 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was studied retrospectively.