ABSTRACT
OBJETIVOS: Exponer las recomendaciones de un comité de expertos para la reorganización de las unidades de neurourología y la priorización de estudios y tratamientos durante la pandemia COVID-19. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Revisión no sistemática de la literatura científica y opinión de expertos nacionales para resumir las recomendaciones en el diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento de los pacientes neurourológicos durante la pandemia COVID-19. Se utiliza una técnica de grupo nominal modificada debido a las restricciones extraordinarias de reunión y movilidad durante la pandemia COVID-19. RESULTADOS: Los pacientes neurourológicos poseen características fisiopatológicas especiales que les hace más vulnerables frente a la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Han sido englobados en general en el grupo de la Urología Funcional, relegando su manejo al de las situaciones no urgentes y demorables sin plazo concreto de recuperación de la normalidad. Sin embargo, es importante identificar situaciones específicas en las que exista compromiso funcional del aparato urinario superior, retención urinaria, o desarrollo de infecciones/sepsis urinaria. Se realiza una clasificación según el nivel de prioridad tanto del manejo ambulatorio y conservador como del tratamiento quirúrgico de eventos relacionados con pacientes neurourológicos durante la pandemia COVID-19. CONCLUSIONES: En los pacientes neurourológicos encontramos situaciones clínicas excepcionales en las que un retraso de su tratamiento puede conllevar alteraciones irreversibles en el tracto urinario superior, dada su condición de vejiga de riesgo funcional, por lo que debe individualizarse un manejo más precoz en ciertos escenarios OBJECTIVES: To report the recommendations of an expert panel to reorganize Neurourology units and to prioritize examinations and both conservative and surgical treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-systematic review of the literature and national experts'opinion summarizing ther ecommendations in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. A modified nominal group technique was used due to extraordinary meeting and mobility restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Neurourological patients have special physiological and pathological characteristics that make them more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. For prioritization purposes, they encompass in Functional Urology patients and their management is considered non-urgent or delayable with no specific deadline of recovery from normality. However, it is important to identify individual situations jeopardising the upper urinary tract, urinary retention or predisposing to urinary infections/sepsis. A classification is provided prioritizing conservative/outpatient management and the surgical treatment of the events occurring in neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: In neurourological patients we can find exceptional clinical situations in which a delayed treatment could develop irreversible changes in the upper urinary tract, advocating a more urgent treatment in specific scenarios
ABSTRACT
OBJETIVOS: Exponer las recomendaciones de un comité de expertos para la reorganización de las unidades de neurourología y la priorización de estudios y tratamientos durante la pandemia COVID-19. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Revisión no sistemática de la literatura científica y opinión de expertos nacionales para resumir las recomendaciones en el diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento de los pacientes neurourológicos durante la pandemia COVID-19. Se utiliza una técnica de grupo nominal modificada debido a las restricciones extraordinarias de reunión y movilidad durante la pandemia COVID-19. RESULTADOS: Los pacientes neurourológicos poseen características fisiopatológicas especiales que les hace más vulnerables frente a la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Han sido englobados en general en el grupo de la Urología Funcional, relegando su manejo al de las situaciones no urgentes y demorables sin plazo concreto de recuperación de la normalidad. Sin embargo, es importante identificar situaciones específicas en las que exista compromiso funcional del aparato urinario superior, retención urinaria, o desarrollo de infecciones/sepsis urinaria. Se realiza una clasificación según el nivel de prioridad tanto del manejo ambulatorio y conservador como del tratamiento quirúrgico de eventos relacionados con pacientes neurourológicos durante la pandemia COVID-19. CONCLUSIONES: En los pacientes neurourológicos encontramos situaciones clínicas excepcionales en las que un retraso de su tratamiento puede conllevar alteraciones irreversibles en el tracto urinario superior, dada su condición de vejiga de riesgo funcional, por lo que debe individualizarse un manejo más precoz en ciertos escenarios OBJECTIVES: To report the recommendations of an expert panel to reorganize Neurourology units and to prioritize examinations and both conservative and surgical treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-systematic review of the literature and national experts'opinion summarizing the recommendations in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. A modified nominal group technique was used due to extraordinary meeting and mobility restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Neurourological patients have special physiological and pathological characteristics that make them more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. For prioritization purposes, they encompass in Functional Urology patients and their management is considered non-urgent or delayable with no specific deadline of recovery from normality. However, it is important to identify individual situations jeopardising the upper urinary tract, urinary retention or predisposing to urinary infections/sepsis. A classification is provided prioritizing conservative/outpatient management and the surgical treatment of the events occurring in neurourological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: In neurourological patients we can find exceptional clinical situations in which a delayed treatment could develop irreversible changes in the upper urinary tract, advocating a more urgent treatment in specific scenarios
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has changed standard urology practice around the world. The situation is affecting not only uro-oncological patients but also patients with benign and disabling conditions who are suffering delays in medical attention that impact their quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To propose, based on expert advice and current evidence where available, a strategy to reorganize female and functional urological (FFU) activity (diagnosis and treatment). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The present document is based on a narrative review of the limited data available in the urological literature on SARS-Cov-2 and the experience of FFU experts from several countries around the world. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: In all the treatment schemes proposed in the literature on the COVID-19 pandemic, FFU surgery is not adequately covered and usually grouped into the category that is not urgent or can be delayed, but in a sustained pandemic scenario there are cases that cannot be delayed that should be considered for surgery as a priority. The aim of this document is to provide a detailed management plan for noninvasive and invasive FFU consultations, investigations, and operations. A classification of FFU surgical activity by indication and urgency is proposed, as well as recommendations adopted from the literature for good surgical practice and by surgical approach in FFU in the COVID-19 era. CONCLUSIONS: Functional, benign, and pelvic floor conditions have often been considered suitable for delay in challenging times. The long-term implications of this reduction in functional urology clinical activity are currently unknown. This document will help functional urology departments to reorganize their activity to best serve their patients. PATIENT SUMMARY: Many patients will suffer delays in urology treatment because of COVID-19, with consequent impairment of their physical and psychological health and deterioration of their quality of life. Efforts should be made to minimize the burden for this patient group, without endangering patients and health care workers.