COVID‐19 pandemic – is virtual urology clinic the answer to keeping the cancer pathway moving?

Connor, Martin J.; Winkler, Mathias; Miah, Saiful

doi:10.1111/bju.15061

Cited by 82 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…According to Angelico et al, that cutback was due to the fact that beds at the intensive care units were reserved for COVID-19 patients. Connor et al [3] worried about the implications of the pandemic for urology patients, especially those with malignant disease. The authors stated that they tried by telemedicine to compensate for the cancellation of all outpatient activities, but were concerned about delivering a primary diagnosis of malignant disease via telemedicine.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Massive cutback in orthopaedic healthcare services due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Liebensteiner

Khosravi²,

Hirschmann

et al. 2020

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc

119

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Due to the lack of evidence, it was the aim of the study to investigate current possible cutbacks in orthopaedic healthcare due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic . Methods An online survey was performed of orthopaedic surgeons in the German-speaking Arthroscopy Society (Gesellschaft für Arthroskopie und Gelenkchirurgie, AGA). The survey consisted of 20 questions concerning four topics: four questions addressed the origin and surgical experience of the participant, 12 questions dealt with potential cutbacks in orthopaedic healthcare and 4 questions addressed the influence of the pandemic on the particular surgeon. Results Of 4234 contacted orthopaedic surgeons, 1399 responded. Regarding arthroscopic procedures between 10 and 30% of the participants stated that these were still being performed-with actual percentages depending on the specific joint and procedure. Only 6.2% of the participants stated that elective total joint arthroplasty was still being performed at their centre. In addition, physical rehabilitation and surgeons' postoperative follow-ups were severely affected. Conclusion Orthopaedic healthcare services in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland are suffering a drastic cutback due to COVID-19. A drastic reduction in arthroscopic procedures like rotator cuff repair and cruciate ligament reconstruction and an almost total shutdown of elective total joint arthroplasty were reported. Long-term consequences cannot be predicted yet. The described disruption in orthopaedic healthcare services has to be viewed as historic. Level of evidence V.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Massive cutback in orthopaedic healthcare services due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Liebensteiner

Khosravi²,

Hirschmann

et al. 2020

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc

119

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Since the start of the pandemic, many have transitioned preoperative counseling to telehealth when possible. 11 An important component of the preoperative evaluation for protecting patients and health care workers is testing for SARS-CoV-2. Most recommendations, such as those from the CDC, only recommend testing patients with symptoms.…”

Section: Triaging Patients and Preoperative Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urologic Surgery and COVID-19: How the Pandemic Is Changing the Way We Operate

Steward

Kitley

Schmidt

et al. 2020

Journal of Endourology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a global impact on all aspects of health care, including surgical procedures. For urologists, it has affected and will continue to influence how we approach the care of patients preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. A risk-benefit assessment of each patient undergoing surgery should be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the urgency of the surgery and the risk of viral illness and transmission. Patients with advanced age and comorbidities have a higher incidence of mortality. Routine preoperative testing and symptom screening is recommended to identify those with COVID-19. Adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the surgical team is essential to protect health care workers and ensure an adequate workforce. For COVID-19 positive or suspected patients, the use of N95 respirators is recommended if available. The anesthesia method chosen should attempt to minimize aerosolization of the virus. Negative pressure rooms are strongly preferred for intubation/extubation and other aerosolizing procedures for COVID-19 positive patients or when COVID status is unknown. Although transmission has not yet been shown during laparoscopic and robotic procedures, efforts should be made to minimize the risk of aerosolization. Ultra-low particulate air filters are recommended for use during minimally invasive procedures to decrease the risk of viral transmission. Thorough cleaning and sterilization should be performed postoperatively with adequate time allowed for the operating room air to be cycled after procedures. COVID-19 patients should be separated from noninfected patients at all levels of care, including recovery, to decrease the risk of infection. Future directions will be guided by outcomes and infection rates as social distancing guidelines are relaxed and more surgical procedures are reintroduced. Recommendations should be adapted to the local environment and will continue to evolve as more data become available, the shortage of testing and PPE is resolved, and a vaccine and therapeutics for COVID-19 are developed.

show abstract

“…The COVID-19 effect might lead us to discriminate between these consultations, referring many of them back to their primary care providers. Furthermore, telemedicine might prove useful in this setting; some institutions already successfully using these tools should continue to do so, even when the pandemic is controlled 5 . Finally, as follow-up monitoring of patients with urological disorders almost invariably involves imaging studies, the urologist's role must be to critically reconsider indications for CT scans or ultrasonography, as their availability is likely to be reduced for some time.…”

Section: Alessandro Morlacco ✉ Giovanni Motterle and Filiberto Zattonimentioning

confidence: 99%