Impact of a pandemic on surgical neuro-oncology-maintaining functionality in the early phase of crisis.
BMC Surg
; 21(1): 40, 2021 Jan 18.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1067219
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has extraordinarily impacted global healthcare. Neuro-oncological surgery units have peculiar features that make them highly relevant in the strategic reaction to the pandemic. In this Chinese Society of Neuro-Oncology (CSNO) initiated survey, we appraise the changes implemented in neuro-oncological surgery hospitals across different Asian countries and provide expert recommendations for responses at different stages of the pandemic.METHODS:
We performed a 42-question survey of the early experience of neuro-oncological surgery practice in hospitals across different Asian countries on April 1, 2020, with responses closed on April 18, 2020.RESULTS:
144 hospitals completed the questionnaire. Most were in WHO post-peak phase of the pandemic and reported a median reduction in neuro-oncological surgery volume of 25-50%. Most (67.4%) resumed elective surgery in only COVID-19 negative patients;11.1% performed only emergency cases irrespective of COVID-19 status;2.1% suspended all surgical activity. Ninety-one (63.2%) relocated personnel from neurosurgery to other departments. Fifty-two (36.1%) hospitals suspended post-operative adjuvant therapy and 94 (65.2%) instituted different measures to administer post-operative adjuvant therapy. Majority (59.0%) of the hospitals suspended research activity. Most (70%) respondents anticipate that current neurosurgery restrictions will continue to remain for > 1 month.CONCLUSIONS:
Majority of the respondents to our survey reported reduced neuro-oncological surgery activity, policy modification, personnel reallocation, and curtailment of educational/research activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The persistent widespread interruption of surgical neuro-oncology in even post-peak phases of the pandemic raises serious concerns about the long-term impact of the pandemic on neuro-oncological patients and highlights the essence of timely measures for pandemic preparedness, patient triage, and workforce protection.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Neurosurgical Procedures
/
Pandemics
/
COVID-19
/
Neurosurgery
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Surg
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12893-021-01055-z
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