Perioperative Challenges in the Management of Rhino-Orbital Cerebral Mucormycosis: An Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the biggest threat of the century. Associated with this disease, are a number of rhino orbital cerebral mucormycosis cases seen as post COVID sequelae. Amphotericin B and surgical debridement are the treatment modalities. AIMS: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and perioperative outcomes of patients with ROCM. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a prospective, observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a study of 238 patients with confirmed ROCM posted for functional endoscopic sinus surgery, craniotomies, maxillofacial surgeries, and orbital exenteration under general anesthesia and the perioperative challenges therein. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were entered in the excel sheet. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27:0. Categorical variables were expressed as counts and percentages. RESULTS: 78% had diabetes mellitus, 64% had received steroids, 59% had a preoperative oxygen saturation of less than 90%, 86% had a 4–6 zone involvement on chest radiograph, and more than 50% had an anticipated difficult airway. Postsurgery, 13% of patients required intensive care. The 15-day mortality rate was 3% among the operated cases. CONCLUSION: Post-COVID ROCM is challenging in terms of preoperative poor general condition, difficult airway, intraoperative concerns due to pathophysiology of the disease and its effect on organ systems, and the requirement of postoperative vigilant monitoring.