Colorectal Surgery During the First Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic: How the Coronavirus Affected Our Practice

ABSTRACT

Objective: The COVID-19 has quickly climbed to a global pandemic and hospitals had to adjust in order to manage the resources available. The aim of this article was to expose our experience and the means used to avoid delay in treating oncologic patients. Methods: Collection of data from all patient who underwent elective colorectal surgery for neoplasia during the state of emergency (between March 16th and May 16th 2020) and compared the surgical outcomes with the outcomes of the previous year. Results: A total of 28 patients received colorectal surgery from March 16th and May 16th 2020. Laparoscopy using the Air-Seal® was the most practiced approach (Pearson Chi-Square 0.014;p value 0.905). The complication rate was not statistically different from the previous year (Pearson Chi-Square 2.640;p value 0.104) as well as the rate of major complications (Pearson Chi-Square 0.754;p value 0.385). During the peak of infections, there was no increase in the number of days of hospitalization comparing to the previous year (p value 0.279). There was no delay in the oncologic surgical treatment (p value 0.010). Conclusion: We were able to demonstrate that it is possible to treat cancer patients during pandemic without compromising its possibility of cure. © 2022 Celsius Publishing House. All rights reserved.