This international prospective cohort study analysed data on > 96k patients from > 1500 hospitals in > 100 countries. They found that the overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate for all patients was 2.0%, which alone is useful to know. Perhaps more strikingly, and following adjustment for various measured confounders, patients who isolated had a 20% increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. The risk climbed to 31% more in those isolating ≥ 8 days, which is still shorter than current periods recommended in England for certain patient groups.

The question is, can these new data be used to update guidelines and clinical practice, resulting in at once improved safety, outcomes, efficiency and patient experience?

Joining us today we have Joana Simoes, Elizabeth Li and Aneel Bhangu from the authorship group.