Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões
http://www.rcbc.periodikos.com.br/article/doi/10.1590/0100-6991e-2026002826
Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões
Original Article

Efeitos da pandemia de COVID-19 sobre um programa de residência médica em cirurgia geral

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on a general surgery residency program

Joelma Moreira Belas Torres; Juan Eduardo Rios Rodriguez; Ananda Thamara Gean Tibão; Júlio Gomes do Nascimento Neto; Ad’Vila Nogueira da Silva; Victor Vinicius Monteiro Lins de Albuquerque; Rubem Alves da Silva Junior; Danielle Alcântara Barbosa Machado

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0100-6991e-2026002826 RCBC, vol.53, e2026002826, 2026
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Resumo

Introdução: A pandemia de COVID-19, iniciada em 2020, levou à reorganização dos serviços de saúde, incluindo a suspensão de procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos. Essa mudança reduziu a atividade operatória e pode ter impactado a formação em cirurgia geral. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da pandemia no volume e no perfil dos procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados em um hospital universitário.

Métodos: Estudo observacional retrospectivo comparativo composto por registros de procedimentos realizados pelo serviço de Cirurgia Geral de um hospital universitário entre março de 2018 e fevereiro de 2021. Foram analisadas variáveis demográficas (idade e sexo) e características dos procedimentos (tipo e complexidade). Adotou-se nível de significância de p<0,05.

Resultados: Foram analisados prontuários de 1.619 pacientes. Os períodos de avaliação foram categorizados em dois pré-pandêmicos (2018-2019 e 2019-2020) e um pandêmico (2020-2021). A média de idade foi de 49,5 ± 14,8 anos, com predominância feminina (61,3%). Durante a pandemia, a idade média foi significativamente menor (p=0,003), sem diferenças quanto ao sexo. As colecistectomias corresponderam a 46,0% dos procedimentos, com predomínio de média complexidade (69,2%). Observou-se redução expressiva do número total de cirurgias no período pandêmico (344) em comparação aos anos anteriores (569 e 706). Houve aumento significativo de apendicectomias (p=0,031), desbridamentos (p=0,030) e traqueostomias (p<0,001), além de redução significativa nas exéreses (p<0,001), especialmente de lipomas (p<0,001) e tumores cutâneos (p=0,028).

Conclusão: A pandemia de COVID-19 resultou em redução substancial do volume cirúrgico eletivo e aumento de intervenções de suporte crítico, como traqueostomias. Esses achados evidenciam uma alteração quantitativa na exposição prática da residência médica.

Palavras-chave

Cirurgia Geral; Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Operatórios; Educação Médica; Internato e Residência; COVID-19; Pandemias; Preparação para Pandemia

Abstract

Introduction: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a major reorganization of the health care system, including the suspension of elective surgical procedures. This reduction in operative activity may have affected general surgery training. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the pandemic on the volume and profile of surgical procedures performed at a university hospital.

Methods: This retrospective, observational, comparative study examined records of procedures performed by the General Surgery Department of a university hospital between March 2018 and February 2021. Demographic variables (age and sex) and procedural characteristics (type and complexity) were analyzed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Medical records from 1,619 patients were analyzed. The study periods were categorized into three intervals: two pre-pandemic (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) and one pandemic (2020-2021). The mean patient age was 49.5 ± 14.8 years, with a female patient majority of 61.3%. During the pandemic period, the mean patient age was significantly lower (p = 0.003) and there were no sex-related differences. Cholecystectomies accounted for 46.0% of procedures, with intermediate-complexity operations predominating (69.2%). A marked reduction in total surgical volume was observed during the pandemic period (344 procedures), compared to the previous 2 years (569 and 706 procedures). Significant increases were observed in appendectomies (p = 0.031), debridement procedures (p = 0.030), and tracheostomies (p < 0.001), whereas excisional procedures decreased significantly (p < 0.001), particularly lipoma (p < 0.001) and skin tumor (p = 0.028) excisions.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a substantial reduction in elective surgical procedures and an increase in critical care-related interventions, such as tracheostomies. These findings demonstrate a quantitative shift in procedural exposure during surgical residency training.

Keywords

General Surgery; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Medical Education; Internship and Residency; COVID-19; Pandemics; Pandemic Preparedness

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Submitted date:
03/07/2026

Accepted date:
05/05/2026

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