SURGERY AND HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION - INDICATIONS, PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS, RISKS, AND RISK PREVENTION

A review of patients proven to have the acquired immunodeficiency synd rome (AIDS) at autopsy revealed that 15.0% had one or more surgical pr ocedures performed while they were infected with the immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Complications of AIDS were not frequently amenable to sur gical therapy. Only 3.7% had an operation for a condition specifically related to AIDS, with mean postoperative survival of 79 days. Eleven patients (2.5%) required surgical treatment for conditions unrelated t o HIV infection. Minor therapeutic and diagnostic surgical procedures were performed in 8.8% of patients hospitalized with AIDS. Postoperati ve survival was longer in patients with HIV infection than with clinic al AIDS. No seroconversions to HIV positivity occurred in any personne l performing the procedures. Risk of accidental infection to operating room personnel via blood contact during surgical procedures is not ex cessive and fan be reduced by adherence to universal precautions.