Study Of Patients With HIV Presenting With Surgical Emergencies

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a serious global health concern, with advances in anti-retro-viral therapy (ART) increasing patient survival rates. However, HIV-positive people are still vulnerable to a variety of surgical emergencies, such as gastrointestinal problems, infections, trauma, and cancer. The study investigates the effect of HIV on surgical emergencies, comparing results for HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. The data show that the most prevalent surgical emergencies in HIV-positive patients are severe abdominal pain, peritonitis, and trauma-related difficulties, which are frequently exacerbated by opportunistic infections.

ART has been demonstrated to dramatically enhance surgical outcomes by lowering infections and improving recovery, even though HIV-positive patients have a higher risk of complications and require longer recovery periods. On the other hand, worse results, such as more surgical site infections and slower recovery, result from poorly controlled HIV or ART interruptions. According to the study's findings, although ART has helped HIV patients have better surgical outcomes, preoperative optimisation and HIV care are still essential for lowering surgical risks and enhancing recovery.