Improved outcomes following gastrointestinal surgery among people living with HIV in the HAART-era: A scoping review

Background: This study aimed to review the varied gastrointestinal (GI) system surgical outcomes among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLWH) in the HAART-era.

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for primary publications on GI surgery outcomes exclusively in HAART-treated HIV patients. NSQIP-reported complications (NRCs), all-cause complications (ACC) and HIV disease parameters were extracted.

Results: 12 studies met study inclusion criteria, examining bowel (4), bariatric (5), cholecystectomy (1), appendectomy (1), and other general abdominal operations (1). The NRC rate was 0%, ≥44.4% and 13.3% in bariatric, bowel and appendix surgeries, respectively. Over half of NRCs were infectious. HAART-treated patients had lower ACC, LOS, and sepsis versus untreated-HIV, and higher ACC, LOS and reoperation rates versus HIV-negative patients.

Conclusion: HAART use is associated with markedly improved NRC outcomes post GI surgery among PLWH; however, these remained inferior to those documented among HIV uninfected individuals.

• Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
  • Epidemiology
• Population(s)
  • General HIV+ population