Is Elective Cancer Surgery Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic?


Journal

World journal of surgery
ISSN: 1432-2323
Titre abrégé: World J Surg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 7704052

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
10 2020
Historique:
accepted: 08 07 2020
pubmed: 9 8 2020
medline: 10 9 2020
entrez: 9 8 2020
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of elective cancer operations performed. Cancer patients are felt to be a high-risk group for COVID-19, and therefore, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of operating during this time; however, the potential risk of cancer progression if untreated must also be considered. The aim of this study was therefore to identify the incidence of COVID-19 post-operatively in patients undergoing elective cancer surgery of all types. Data were collected on all patients who had an elective therapeutic cancer operation in a single large district general hospital, where standard COVID-19 precautions were in place, between 01/02/2020 and 27/4/2020, Follow-up was for a minimum of 2 weeks post-discharge. The primary outcome was the incidence of COVID-19 during the follow-up period. A total of 621 elective cancer surgeries, from a range of specialities, were performed during the study period, with 55% (n = 341) being done as day cases. None of the patients were positive for COVID-19 post-operatively using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing. The risk of COVID-19 following elective cancer surgery in this group of high-risk patients appears to be minimal in this study. With further precautions being introduced to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, an increase in the rate of elective cancer surgery should be a current priority for all hospitals where possible.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of elective cancer operations performed. Cancer patients are felt to be a high-risk group for COVID-19, and therefore, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of operating during this time; however, the potential risk of cancer progression if untreated must also be considered. The aim of this study was therefore to identify the incidence of COVID-19 post-operatively in patients undergoing elective cancer surgery of all types.
METHODS
Data were collected on all patients who had an elective therapeutic cancer operation in a single large district general hospital, where standard COVID-19 precautions were in place, between 01/02/2020 and 27/4/2020, Follow-up was for a minimum of 2 weeks post-discharge. The primary outcome was the incidence of COVID-19 during the follow-up period.
RESULTS
A total of 621 elective cancer surgeries, from a range of specialities, were performed during the study period, with 55% (n = 341) being done as day cases. None of the patients were positive for COVID-19 post-operatively using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing.
CONCLUSIONS
The risk of COVID-19 following elective cancer surgery in this group of high-risk patients appears to be minimal in this study. With further precautions being introduced to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, an increase in the rate of elective cancer surgery should be a current priority for all hospitals where possible.

Identifiants

pubmed: 32766957
doi: 10.1007/s00268-020-05720-x
pii: 10.1007/s00268-020-05720-x
pmc: PMC7410357
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

3207-3211

Références

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Auteurs

Chenchen Ji (C)

Department of Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK.

Kaushiki Singh (K)

Department of Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK.

Alison Zoe Luther (AZ)

Department of Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK. alison.luther@porthosp.nhs.uk.
Department of Breast Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, PO6 3LY, UK. alison.luther@porthosp.nhs.uk.

Avi Agrawal (A)

Department of Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK.

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