The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of Indications
Background:. Since its outbreak, the COVID-19-pandemic has had a tremendous impact on healthcare systems worldwide. We conducted a comparative study to analyze the pandemic’s consequence on microsurgical reconstructions at a reconstructive plastic surgery center in Sweden. Method:. All free flaps pe...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004309 |
| _version_ | 1818522765511098368 |
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| author | Darco Zindrou, MS Martin Halle, PhD, MD Stina Jakobsson, PhD, MD |
| author_facet | Darco Zindrou, MS Martin Halle, PhD, MD Stina Jakobsson, PhD, MD |
| author_sort | Darco Zindrou, MS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background:. Since its outbreak, the COVID-19-pandemic has had a tremendous impact on healthcare systems worldwide. We conducted a comparative study to analyze the pandemic’s consequence on microsurgical reconstructions at a reconstructive plastic surgery center in Sweden.
Method:. All free flaps performed at a single center between March 2019 and 2021 were analyzed. The patient cohort was divided into two groups, with a period of 1 year in each group: non-COVID-19 year and COVID-19 year. The periods were compared regarding the number and type of surgeries and patient characteristics.
Results:. In the year prior to the pandemic, 123 free flap surgeries were performed, compared with 103 surgeries during the COVID-19 year. There was a significant shift in the most common site for free flap reconstruction: from the breast [which decreased by 42% (66–38)] to head and neck [which increased by 22% (41–50); OR 0.53 (P = 0.02)]. This was also reflected by a significant increase in hospital stay for free flap patients during the COVID-19 year (P = 0.02).
Conclusions:. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift was seen from breast reconstructions toward head and neck reconstructions as the most common free flap procedure performed. An increasing backlog of elective breast reconstructions demands increased resources and tougher priorities, which challenge the healthcare system in the post-COVID-19 era. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:37:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a143de3182b041bb88d254cab28923a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2169-7574 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:37:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-a143de3182b041bb88d254cab28923a92022-12-22T01:19:15ZengWolters KluwerPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open2169-75742022-04-01104e430910.1097/GOX.0000000000004309202204000-00058The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of IndicationsDarco Zindrou, MS0Martin Halle, PhD, MD1Stina Jakobsson, PhD, MD2From the * Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenFrom the * Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenFrom the * Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenBackground:. Since its outbreak, the COVID-19-pandemic has had a tremendous impact on healthcare systems worldwide. We conducted a comparative study to analyze the pandemic’s consequence on microsurgical reconstructions at a reconstructive plastic surgery center in Sweden. Method:. All free flaps performed at a single center between March 2019 and 2021 were analyzed. The patient cohort was divided into two groups, with a period of 1 year in each group: non-COVID-19 year and COVID-19 year. The periods were compared regarding the number and type of surgeries and patient characteristics. Results:. In the year prior to the pandemic, 123 free flap surgeries were performed, compared with 103 surgeries during the COVID-19 year. There was a significant shift in the most common site for free flap reconstruction: from the breast [which decreased by 42% (66–38)] to head and neck [which increased by 22% (41–50); OR 0.53 (P = 0.02)]. This was also reflected by a significant increase in hospital stay for free flap patients during the COVID-19 year (P = 0.02). Conclusions:. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift was seen from breast reconstructions toward head and neck reconstructions as the most common free flap procedure performed. An increasing backlog of elective breast reconstructions demands increased resources and tougher priorities, which challenge the healthcare system in the post-COVID-19 era.http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004309 |
| spellingShingle | Darco Zindrou, MS Martin Halle, PhD, MD Stina Jakobsson, PhD, MD The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of Indications Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open |
| title | The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of Indications |
| title_full | The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of Indications |
| title_fullStr | The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of Indications |
| title_full_unstemmed | The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of Indications |
| title_short | The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of Indications |
| title_sort | covid 19 pandemic consequences on microsurgical reconstructions a single center s shift of indications |
| url | http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000004309 |
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