New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic put a great burden on national healthcare systems, causing delays and disruptions in the medical care of non-COVID-19 patients. This paper aims to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic impact upon the quality of care in colorectal surgery. (2) Materials and Methods: We...

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Main Authors: Dragos Serban, Geta Vancea, Catalin Gabriel Smarandache, Simona Andreea Balasescu, Gabriel Andrei Gangura, Daniel Ovidiu Costea, Mihail Silviu Tudosie, Corneliu Tudor, Dan Dumitrescu, Ana Maria Dascalu, Ciprian Tanasescu, Laura Carina Tribus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5337
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author Dragos Serban
Geta Vancea
Catalin Gabriel Smarandache
Simona Andreea Balasescu
Gabriel Andrei Gangura
Daniel Ovidiu Costea
Mihail Silviu Tudosie
Corneliu Tudor
Dan Dumitrescu
Ana Maria Dascalu
Ciprian Tanasescu
Laura Carina Tribus
author_facet Dragos Serban
Geta Vancea
Catalin Gabriel Smarandache
Simona Andreea Balasescu
Gabriel Andrei Gangura
Daniel Ovidiu Costea
Mihail Silviu Tudosie
Corneliu Tudor
Dan Dumitrescu
Ana Maria Dascalu
Ciprian Tanasescu
Laura Carina Tribus
author_sort Dragos Serban
collection DOAJ
description (1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic put a great burden on national healthcare systems, causing delays and disruptions in the medical care of non-COVID-19 patients. This paper aims to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic impact upon the quality of care in colorectal surgery. (2) Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study on the colorectal cancer cases operated in the Fourth Department of General Surgery, Emergency Hospital Bucharest Romania, over the period March 2020–February 2021 (pandemic group) vs. March 2019–February 2020 (non-pandemic group). (3) Results: The number of patients in the pandemic group decreased by 70% (36 vs. 118 patients), with lower accessibility from rural areas (11.1% vs. 37.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.035). Most cases in the pandemic group were emergencies (69% vs. 37.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.009), admitted for bowel obstruction (63.8% vs. 27.9%, <i>p</i> = 0.008). There was no in-hospital COVID-19 infection in patients operated for colorectal cancer. The 30-day mortality was significantly higher in the pandemic group (25% vs. 6.7%, <i>p</i> = 0.017), mostly due to septic shock (36.1% vs. 5%, <i>p</i> = 0.0001). (4) Conclusions: Colorectal cancer surgery may be performed safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with strict adherence to the SARS-CoV-2 prevention protocols. However, the significant increase in colorectal cancers in the emergency was associated with worse outcomes and higher mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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spelling doaj.art-a0eb42df2e3f45589c447da961a12c3d2023-11-23T13:40:00ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-05-011211533710.3390/app12115337New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 PandemicDragos Serban0Geta Vancea1Catalin Gabriel Smarandache2Simona Andreea Balasescu3Gabriel Andrei Gangura4Daniel Ovidiu Costea5Mihail Silviu Tudosie6Corneliu Tudor7Dan Dumitrescu8Ana Maria Dascalu9Ciprian Tanasescu10Laura Carina Tribus11Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFourth General Surgery Department, Emergency University Hospital Bucharest, 050098 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, General Surgery Department, ‘Ovidius’ University Constanta, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFourth General Surgery Department, Emergency University Hospital Bucharest, 050098 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 020021 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, “Lucian Blaga” University Sibiu, 550024 Sibiu, RomaniaFaculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic put a great burden on national healthcare systems, causing delays and disruptions in the medical care of non-COVID-19 patients. This paper aims to analyze the COVID-19 pandemic impact upon the quality of care in colorectal surgery. (2) Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study on the colorectal cancer cases operated in the Fourth Department of General Surgery, Emergency Hospital Bucharest Romania, over the period March 2020–February 2021 (pandemic group) vs. March 2019–February 2020 (non-pandemic group). (3) Results: The number of patients in the pandemic group decreased by 70% (36 vs. 118 patients), with lower accessibility from rural areas (11.1% vs. 37.2%, <i>p</i> = 0.035). Most cases in the pandemic group were emergencies (69% vs. 37.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.009), admitted for bowel obstruction (63.8% vs. 27.9%, <i>p</i> = 0.008). There was no in-hospital COVID-19 infection in patients operated for colorectal cancer. The 30-day mortality was significantly higher in the pandemic group (25% vs. 6.7%, <i>p</i> = 0.017), mostly due to septic shock (36.1% vs. 5%, <i>p</i> = 0.0001). (4) Conclusions: Colorectal cancer surgery may be performed safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with strict adherence to the SARS-CoV-2 prevention protocols. However, the significant increase in colorectal cancers in the emergency was associated with worse outcomes and higher mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5337COVID-19 pandemiccolorectal cancersurgeryquality of careoutcomes
spellingShingle Dragos Serban
Geta Vancea
Catalin Gabriel Smarandache
Simona Andreea Balasescu
Gabriel Andrei Gangura
Daniel Ovidiu Costea
Mihail Silviu Tudosie
Corneliu Tudor
Dan Dumitrescu
Ana Maria Dascalu
Ciprian Tanasescu
Laura Carina Tribus
New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Applied Sciences
COVID-19 pandemic
colorectal cancer
surgery
quality of care
outcomes
title New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_fullStr New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full_unstemmed New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_short New Challenges in Surgical Approaches for Colorectal Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_sort new challenges in surgical approaches for colorectal cancer during the covid 19 pandemic
topic COVID-19 pandemic
colorectal cancer
surgery
quality of care
outcomes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5337
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