Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on gynecological cancer management: national survey. GineonCoVIDsurg Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction/Background*The current COVID 19 pandemic is having a major impact on healthcare systems around the world. Modifications in health resources have been necessary to face this new situation, which have had a direct impact on clinical practice, also affecting the field of gynecology oncology. To date, the evidence of the changes that COVID-19 has implied in the management of patients with gynecological cancer is scarce.The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of patients with gynecological cancer by a nationwide survey to oncogynecologists.MethodologyObservational study that collects data from a national survey sent via email to Spanish oncogynecological surgeons on June 2021. The survey included a total of 35 questions which were divided into 6 sections including assessment of the personal characteristics of responders, questions related to the triage procedures and protective measures adopted in the hospital against COVID-19 and questions related to changes in the management of ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer after COVID-19 outbreak.Result(s)*Overall, 75 participants completed the questionnaire. The results showed that 85% of gynecologic surgeons were not concerned about COVID-19 outbreak and 79.7% of the participants stated that COVID-19 has not significantly modified their everyday practice. All surgeons declared triage method adopted in order to minimise COVID 19 diffusion. 87.5% did not modify surgical approach, although 6.9% decreased laparoscopic use in favor of laparotomic surgery. Only 45.1% of the surgeons adopted specific protection against COVID-19 in robotic or laparoscopic surgery, however 55.6% of the participants adopted it in open surgery. The use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy increased in 31.9% in favor of primary cytoreduction in ovarian cancer. 11.3% and 15.5% of patient with cervical and endometrial cancer respectively suffered a delay in cancer treatment during the pandemic.Conclusion*The conclusions of the study showed how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the surgical management of patients with gynecological cancer in different Spanish hospitals.