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Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the Italian congenital cardiac surgery system: a national survey.
Giamberti, Alessandro; Varrica, Alessandro; Agati, Salvatore; Gargiulo, Gaetano; Luciani, Giovanni Battista; Marianeschi, Stefano Maria; Pace Napoleone, Carlo; Oppido, Guido; Brunelli, Federico; Palma, Gaetano; Pak, Vitali; Arcieri, Luigi; Scalzo, Gabriele; Padalino, Massimo; Galletti, Lorenzo.
  • Giamberti A; Department of Congenital Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy.
  • Varrica A; Department of Congenital Cardiac Surgery, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Italy.
  • Agati S; Mediterranean Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Unit, San Vincenzo Hospital, Taormina, Italy.
  • Gargiulo G; Pediatric and Grown-up Congenital Cardiac Surgery, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
  • Luciani GB; Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynecology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
  • Marianeschi SM; Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Unit, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
  • Pace Napoleone C; Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.
  • Oppido G; Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Brunelli F; Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular Department, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.
  • Palma G; Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Unit, Federico II Hospital, Naples, Italy.
  • Pak V; Pediatric and Adult Congenital cardiac Surgery Unit, Heart Hospital, Massa, Italy.
  • Arcieri L; Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Unit, Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
  • Scalzo G; Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Unit, Giovanni XXII Children's Hospital, Bari, Italy.
  • Padalino M; Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy.
  • Galletti L; Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg ; 58(6): 1254-1260, 2020 12 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1060127
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

Italy has been one of the countries most severely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Italian government was forced to introduce quarantine measures quickly, and all elective health services were stopped or postponed. This emergency has dramatically changed the management of paediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease. We analysed data from 14 Italian congenital cardiac surgery centres during lockdown, focusing on the impact of the pandemic on surgical activity, patients and healthcare providers and resource allocation.

METHODS:

Fourteen centres participated in this study. The period analysed was from 9 March to 4 May. We collected data on the involvement of the hospitals in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 and on limitations on regular activity and on the contagion among patients and healthcare providers.

RESULTS:

Four hospitals (29%) remained COVID-19 free, whereas 10 had a 39% reduction in the number of beds for surgical patients, especially in the northern area. Two hundred sixty-three surgical procedures were performed 20% elective, 62% urgent, 10% emergency and 3% life-saving. Hospital mortality was 0.4%. Compared to 2019, the reduction in surgical activity was 52%. No patients operated on had positive test results before surgery for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Three patients were infected during the postoperative period. Twenty-nine nurses and 12 doctors were infected. Overall, 80% of our infected healthcare providers were in northern centres.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study shows that the pandemic had a different impact on the various Italian congenital cardiac surgery centres based on the different patterns of spread of the virus across the country. During the lockdown, the system was able to satisfy all emergency clinical needs with excellent results.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Health Care Rationing / COVID-19 / Health Services Accessibility / Heart Defects, Congenital / Cardiac Surgical Procedures Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Journal subject: Cardiology Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ejcts

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Health Care Rationing / COVID-19 / Health Services Accessibility / Heart Defects, Congenital / Cardiac Surgical Procedures Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Journal subject: Cardiology Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ejcts