Impact of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular surgery departments in Spain: Analysis of the diagnostic-related groups (SECCE-COVID-19 Study phase 2)

Introduction and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection has saturated the Spanish health system, affecting the care of cardiovascular diseases. In this phase 2 of the SECCE-COVID-19 study we want to quantify the impact of the pandemic on the number of cardiac surgeries by analyzing the most prevalent diagnostic-related groups (DRGs) in our specialty. Methods: At the request of the Spanish Society of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery (SECCE), all the centers in the national territory that wanted to participate were asked for the data of the DRG codes number 162 (surgery on heart valves with infarction or complex diagnosis), 163 (surgery on heart valves without infarction or complex diagnosis), 165 (coronary bypass with infarction or complex diagnosis), 166 (coronary bypass without infarction or complex diagnosis) and 167 (other cardiothoracic or thoracic vascular procedures) between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020 (7 months), and as a control period the same dates of the year 2019. Results: Data were received from 24 Hospital Centers, 22 public and 2 private. There was a global decrease in the number of interventions of 30% (Range -19 a -42%, p < 0.001) from 4648 in 2019 to 3262 in 2020 (-1386 difference), being +7% for the GRD 162 (p = 0.500), -37% for 163 (p = 0.001), -9% for 165 (p = 0,304), -32% for 166 (p = 0.001) and -16% for 167(p = 0.062). Conclusions: There was a statistical significant global decrease in surgeries in 2020 of 30% compared to 2019 between March 1 and September 30. © 2021 Sociedad Española de Cirugía Cardiovascular y Endovascular

Spanish Society of Cardiovascular and Endovascular surgery recommendations for the COVID-19 pandemia

In the actual COVID-19 pandemic, the Spanish Society of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery (SECCE) assumes the obligation to elaborate special recommendations that ensure an adequate health care of population, while minimizing the exposure and the risk of contagion for both patients and professionals. For that reason, Cardiovascular Surgery Departments need to develop a functional plan of contingency within the global framework formulated by the instructions of the Ministry of Health and hospital authorities. The aim of this strategy is the proper functioning of Cardiovascular Surgery Departments: a) Correct care for urgent and emerging patients. b) The preparation of a list of preferred patients and temporary treatment criteria. c) The justified and safe delay of elective patients if their pathology and clinical situation allow it. d) The concrete application of ECMO programs in the COVID-19 context.