Lingering SARS-CoV-2 in Gastric and Gallbladder Tissues of Patients with Previous COVID-19 Infection Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

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The study investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in gastric and gallbladder tissues of patients with prior COVID-19 undergoing bariatric surgery.
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Lingering viral antigens in gastrointestinal tissues may explain prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms and fecal shedding in COVID-19 patients.
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The research was conducted at Madina Women’s Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, from November 2021 to May 2022, involving laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
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Patients included had a history of COVID-19, gastrointestinal symptoms, and a negative PCR test at the time of surgery.
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Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in tissues, with a sample size of 80 patients collected for the study.

Obesity Surgery

by Mohamed Hany, Ahmed Zidan, Muhammad Gaballa, Mohamed Ibrahim, Ann Samy Shafiq Agayby, Anwar Ashraf Abouelnasr, Eman Sheta, Bart Torensma
November 1, 2022

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