Impact of COVID-19 outbreak on plastic surgery: Taken precautions, distribution of surgical procedures and changes in admissions to outpatient clinic

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak is a global problem affecting the world in many respects. In the medical field, its impact on surgical branches as well as clinical branches is inevitable. From the plastic surgery perspective, the COVID-19 outbreak affects the number and distribution of surgeries, patient admissions and educational activities. Although these impacts are predictable, it is beneficial to document these data that would contribute to the proper response to a similar crisis in the future. From this standpoint, the present study aims to analyze the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic surgery practice in some aspects. Epidemiologic data of the two-time frames, routine period, and pandemic period of plastic surgery were reviewed retrospectively. The ratios of the listed data were compared between the two periods; admissions to the outpatient clinic, surgeries, consultations, anesthesia type, hospitalizations, and demographic data. While the number of outpatient clinic patients was 3511 in the routine period, it was 490 in the pandemic period. Compared to the routine period, the number of surgical interventions was decreased from 793 to 129 during the pandemic period. In particular, a statistically significant increase was observed in the rate of hand trauma and maxillofacial trauma cases during the pandemic period compared with the routine period ( p < 0.001, and p = 0.032, respectively). Therefore, high rates of hand trauma and maxillofacial trauma should be taken into consideration when making arrangements such as personnel distribution, use of medical resources, and regulation of hospital infrastructure in extraordinary situations like COVID-19 pandemics.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical procedures in Brazil: a descriptive study

“…Other studies have found that plastic surgery procedures most impacted by the pandemic were superficial skin lesions and subcutaneous mass procedures [23], which corroborates our findings of high decrease rates in minor surgeries and surgeries of skin, subcutaneous tissue and mucosa (33.16%).…”

“…There were also important decrease rates among surgeries of the digestive system and abdominal wall (30.16%), which may also reflect recommendations and alternative management of digestive emergency conditions performed during the pandemic. Guidelines support that only lifethreatening gastrointestinal conditions should undergo surgery, and there were recommendations for clinical treatment in conditions such as uncomplicated appendicitis and cholecystitis [17,23], situations in which conservative management appears to be effective and reduce the length of hospital stay [25].…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical procedures in Brazil: a descriptive study

“…Regarding plastic surgery, guidelines support the deferral of breast reconstruction and revision procedures [22], which might explain the high decrease rates in breast surgery (40.68%). Other studies have found that plastic surgery procedures most impacted by the pandemic were superficial skin lesions and subcutaneous mass procedures [23], which corroborates our findings of high decrease rates in minor surgeries and surgeries of skin, subcutaneous tissue and mucosa (33.16%).…”

“…There were also important decrease rates among surgeries of the digestive system and abdominal wall (30.16%), which may also reflect recommendations and alternative management of digestive emergency conditions performed during the pandemic. Guidelines support that only life-threatening gastrointestinal conditions should undergo surgery, and there were recommendations for clinical treatment in conditions such as uncomplicated appendicitis and cholecystitis [17,23], situations in which conservative management appears to be effective and reduce the length of hospital stay [25].…”

Impact of COVID-19 on the patient referral pattern and conversion rate in the university versus private facial plastic surgery centers

“…The reduction was for all types of the plastic surgeries except for post-trauma and skin cancer procedures [ 9 ]. The same model was reported from Turkey [ 10 ] for the first two months after the pandemic and Mexico city [ 11 ] for the first 4-month. However, it is unclear if the same results would have been found for a longer period of time after the pandemic.…”