Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Inpatient Volume at a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Germany with Corneal Main Specialization

Tóth, Gábor; Xanthopoulou, Kassandra; Stachon, Tanja; Németh, János; Hécz, Réka; Berkó-Göttel, Barbara; Pfuhl, Thorsten; Smola, Sigrun; Seitz, Berthold; Szentmáry, Nóra

doi:10.1055/a-1327-3393

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Because mainly elective procedures were subject to cancellations during COVID-19 lockdown periods, the number of emergency procedures would not be expected to change compared to pre-pandemic years ( 13 , 29 , 31 ). Interestingly, Din et al ( 29 ) reported an increase in the number of emergency procedures due to sharp object trauma ( 29 ), which was attributed to redirection of all ophthalmic services from other centers to their hospital as well as an increase in domestic incidences due to the lockdown ( 29 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global impact of COVID-19 on corneal donor tissue harvesting and corneal transplantation

Mousavi,

Kahuam-López,

Iovieno

et al. 2023

Front. Med.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionThe purpose of this review is to consolidate and examine the available literature on the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and its effect on corneal transplantation and eye banking.MethodsA primary literature search was conducted using the PubMed (Medline) database with keywords and MeSH terms such as “corneal transplantation,” “eye banks,” “keratoplasty” and then were combined with COVID-19. Relevant articles through September 2022 were assessed and 25 articles were included in this review.ResultsDonor tissue volumes declined globally during lockdown periods due to a lower number of referrals and tighter tissue screening guidelines. Rates of elective surgeries decreased in the lockdown period compared to respective periods in previous years. However, changes in rates of emergency procedures were not uniform across different regions. Moreover, rates of different elective corneal grafts [i.e., penetrating keratoplasty (PK), endothelial keratoplasty (EK), or anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK)] were affected differently with the pattern of change being dependent on region-specific factors.ConclusionBoth donor tissue volumes and rates of corneal transplant procedures were affected by lockdown restrictions. The underlying etiology of these changes differed by region. Examining the range of impact across many countries as well as the contributing factors involved will provide guidance for future global pandemics.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global impact of COVID-19 on corneal donor tissue harvesting and corneal transplantation

Mousavi,

Kahuam-López,

Iovieno

et al. 2023

Front. Med.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Surgical Care in Specialist Ophthalmology Departments: Structure and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Karaca¹,

Agostini²,

Bialas³

et al. 2022

Klin Monbl Augenheilkd

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Specialist ophthalmology departments contribute to the surgical care of German patients. Outpatient and inpatient surgeries were restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic and led to a sharp decline in the number of cases in ophthalmological care. The aim of this analysis was to improve the understanding of the logistic structures of medical facilities as well as the effects of the pandemic. Material/method: Based on reported process data, a sample of the specialist ophthalmological departments were examined based on OPS codes and data submitted between 01.01.2017 and 31.05.2021 according to the bench-marking program of the Professional Association of German Anaesthetists (BDA), the Professional Association of German Surgeons (BDC) and the Association for Operating Theatre Management (VOPM). Results: 18 ophthalmology departments from Germany were analysed. After the decline in the number of cases (by temporarily up to 48%) during the first wave of the pandemic, the case numbers of all interventions assessed as non-urgent continued to be reduced. While intravitreal injections hardly decreased during the first wave (-16%), significant drops in the coverage of cataract surgery (-79%), vitrectomies (-35%), glaucoma surgery (-59%), strabismus surgery (-95%) and eyelid surgery (-52%) were found. One exception was intravitreal injection, which stabilised at a lower level early on during the pandemic. Overall, the number of cases during the later phases of the pandemic were significantly reduced below the level of previous years, despite the maintenance of emergency care. The underuse was variable for different interventions. Conclusion: In addition to self-reported figures, the analysed process data demonstrates the effect that various factors had on elective as well as urgent operations within hospital care during the pandemic. Despite partial stabilisation of some services, a relevant supply gap for outpatient and inpatient interventions was identified - with corresponding effects on the eye health of the population, while compensation or performance enhancement have not taken place to date. Facing the growing preload and the demographic development, future structures must therefore allow for an increase in the performance of the specialist ophthalmological departments. Hintergrund: Ophthalmologische Hauptabteilungen tragen zur chirurgischen Versorgung deutscher Patienten bei. Ambulante und stationäre Operationen wurden im Rahmen der COVID-19 Pandemie eingeschränkt. Die Pandemie hat zu einem starken Rückgang der Fallzahlen in der augenärztlichen Versorgung geführt. Ziel dieser Analyse ist es, das Verständnis für die Versorgungsstrukturen und die Auswirkungen der Pandemie zu verbessern. Material/Methode: Auf Basis gemeldeter Prozessdaten wurde eine Stichprobe ophthalmologischer Hauptabteilungen untersucht, die OPS-Codes und Daten zwischen dem 01.01.2017 und 31.05.2021 an das Benchmarking-Programm des Berufsverbandes Deutscher Anästhesisten (BDA), des Berufsverbandes der Deutschen Chirurgen (BDC) und dem Verband für OP-Management (VOPM) übermittelten. Ergebnisse: Die ausgewerteten 18 ophthalmologischen Hauptabteilungen zeigten einen starken Rückgang stationärer und ambulanter Fallzahlen. Während die Anzahl intravitrealer Injektionen in der ersten Welle kaum zurückging (-16 %) waren für die Kataraktchirurgie (-79 %), Vitrektomie (-35 %), Glaukomchirurgie (-59 %), strabologische Eingriffe (-95 %) und Lidchirurgie (-52 %) deutliche Rückgänge zu verzeichnen. Auch nach der ersten Pandemiewelle blieben die Fallzahlen aller nicht dringlich bewerteten Eingriffe reduziert. Unabhängig von der aufrecht erhaltenen Notfallversorgung war die Minderversorgung für die untersuchten Prozeduren unterschiedlich ausgeprägt. Schlussfolgerung: Die ophthalmologische Versorgung in den untersuchten Hauptabteilungen wurde nach den gesetzlichen Vorgaben reduziert und aufrechterhalten. Trotz einer teilweisen Stabilisierung einiger Leistungen muss eine relevante Versorgungslücke für ambulante und stationäre Eingriffe – mit entsprechenden Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit der Bevölkerung – festgestellt werden, nachdem weder Kompensation noch Leistungssteigerung bisher stattgefunden haben. Angesichts einer aufgebauten Vorlast und der demographischen Entwicklung, müssen die zukünftigen Strukturen eine Leistungssteigerung der Hauptabteilungen ermöglichen.

show abstract

The effects on intravitreal anti-VEGF injections of Covid-19 pandemic in Eastern Black Sea Region of TURKEY.

Uzlu¹

2021

Beyoglu Eye J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: To compare the number of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections performed during 2020 with that in the same period in 2019. Methods: The study investigated anti-VEGF injections performed in 2019 and 2020. Injections performed on 923 eyes of 858 patients were evaluated. The patients were treated for diabetic macular edema (DME), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Injections, new cases, and patients who either completed or did not complete three loading doses in 2019 and 2020 were first compared. The same comparisons were then performed between the pandemic period in 2020 and the same period in 2019. Results: While 2070 injections were performed on 670 eyes in 2019, 1478 injections were applied to 253 eyes in 2020 (p=0.001). The number of naive eyes was 163 in 2019 and 83 in 2020. During the pandemic period in 2020, 967 injections were performed on 181 eyes, compared with 1721 injections on 532 eyes in the same period in 2019 (p=0.001). While 86.5% of patients completed three injections in 2020, the rate was 78.9% for the same period in 2019 (p=0.025). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decrease in the number of patients presenting to the hospital, and delays occurred in treatment protocols. However, patients admitted to the hospital during this period adapted better to the loading doses. In conclusion, the pandemic caused significant disruption to treatment, and this will inevitably result in anatomical and functional worsening in the eye.

show abstract

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Inpatient Volume at a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Germany with Corneal Main Specialization

Cited by 5 publications

References 12 publications

Global impact of COVID-19 on corneal donor tissue harvesting and corneal transplantation

Global impact of COVID-19 on corneal donor tissue harvesting and corneal transplantation

Surgical Care in Specialist Ophthalmology Departments: Structure and Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The effects on intravitreal anti-VEGF injections of Covid-19 pandemic in Eastern Black Sea Region of TURKEY.

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About