Gastric cancer diagnosis and staging in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

AIM: The aim of the study was to analyze whether COVID-19 cause a delay in the diagnosis of gastric cancer patients particularly in the TNM staging of the tumor, or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included the patients diagnosed with gastric cancer from March, 2019 to December 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: baseline and the pandemic groups. The following parameters were compared between the groups; demographic data, numbers of newly diagnosed patients, type of the surgery, location of the tumor, frequency of neoadjuvant treatment, ASA score, length of hospital stay, clinical staging and pathologic TNM staging. RESULTS: The mean monthly number of newly diagnosed gastric cancer patients showed a significant decline from 7.5 to 5.6 (p< .001). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to the demographic factors, except CA 19-9 levels. Patients in the pandemic group had higher both clinical and pathological T-stages (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a decline in the number of the newly diagnosed patients with gastric cancer during the pandemic and also more patients presented with advanced stage during the pandemic period. This study showed that the pandemic causes a potential delay in the diagnosis of gastric cancer patients. KEY WORDS: Cancer surgery, COVID-19, Gastric cancer, Gastric surgery SARS-COV-2, Pandemic.

Gastric cancer diagnosis and staging in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

AIM: The aim of the study was to analyze whether COVID-19 cause a delay in the diagnosis of gastric cancer patients particularly in the TNM staging of the tumor, or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective single-center study included the patients diagnosed with gastric cancer from March, 2019 to December 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: baseline and the pandemic groups. The following parameters were compared between the groups; demographic data, numbers of newly diagnosed patients, type of the surgery, location of the tumor, frequency of neoadjuvant treatment, ASA score, length of hospital stay, clinical staging and pathologic TNM staging. RESULTS: The mean monthly number of newly diagnosed gastric cancer patients showed a significant decline from 7.5 to 5.6 (p< .001). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to the demographic factors, except CA 19-9 levels. Patients in the pandemic group had higher both clinical and pathological T-stages (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a decline in the number of the newly diagnosed patients with gastric cancer during the pandemic and also more patients presented with advanced stage during the pandemic period. This study showed that the pandemic causes a potential delay in the diagnosis of gastric cancer patients. KEY WORDS: Cancer surgery, COVID-19, Gastric cancer, Gastric surgery SARS-COV-2, Pandemic.

The effects of COVID-19 pandemic on emergency anterior abdominal wall hernia surgery: is it safe to postpone elective hernia surgery in the pandemic?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency anterior abdominal wall hernia surgeries (EAAWHS) by comparing the pandemic period with the control period a year ago and to share our experiences in the pandemic period. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included all patients who underwent EAAWHS during the pandemic (from 11 March 2020 to 25 January 2021) and control period (1 year before the same period, from 11 March 2019 to 25 January 2020). Demographic data, preoperative clinical and pathological parameters, intraoperative findings and postoperative complications secondary to operation and COVID-19 infection, length of intensive care and hospital stay of patients were recorded, and the pandemic and control groups were compared. RESULTS: Of the 87 patients who underwent anterior abdominal wall hernia surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic, 41 (47.1%) were operated emergently and 46 (52.9%) were operated electively. Of the 485 patients who underwent anterior abdominal wall hernia surgery during the control period, 24 (4.95%) were operated emergently and 461 (95.05%) were operated electively. The decrease in the number of elective operations and the increase in the number of emergency operations were significant during the pandemic (p < 0.001).There was a decrease in the number of emergency inguinal hernia operations and an increase in the number of emergency ventral (incisional, umbilical) hernia operations during the pandemic period compared to the control period (p < 0.05).The mortality rates were similar (8.3 vs. 9.8%, p > 0.05) in both periods. CONCLUSION: Despite the increase in the number of EAAWHS during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no significant difference in mortality and morbidity rates. EAAWHS can be performed safely during the pandemic by taken necessary and adequate precautions.