A Snapshot of Elective Oncological Surgery in Italy During COVID-19 Emergency: Pearls, Pitfalls, and Perspectives

Objective: To analyze the impact of COVID-19 emergency on elective oncological surgical activity in Italy. Summary of Background Data: COVID-19 emergency shocked national health systems, subtracting resources from treatment of other diseases. Its impact on surgical oncology is still to elucidate. Methods: A 56-question survey regarding the oncological surgical activity in Italy during the COVID-19 emergency was sent to referral centers for hepato-bilio-pancreatic, colorectal, esophago-gastric, and sarcoma/soft-tissue tumors. The survey portrays the situation 5 weeks after the first case of secondary transmission in Italy. Results: In total, 54 surgical Units in 36 Hospitals completed the survey (95%). After COVID-19 emergency, 70% of Units had reduction of hospital beds (median −50%) and 76% of surgical activity (median −50%). The number of surgical procedures decreased: 3.8 (interquartile range 2.7–5.4) per week before the emergency versus 2.6 (22–4.4) after (P = 0.036). In Lombardy, the most involved district, the number decreased from 3.9 to 2 procedures per week. The time interval between multidisciplinary discussion and surgery more than doubled: 7 (6–10) versus 3 (3–4) weeks (P
Source: Annals of Surgery - Category: Surgery Tags: COVID PAPERS Source Type: research