Martini‐Klinik experience of prostate cancer surgery during the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

assisted radical prostatectomy. Comorbidities: predisposing factors for a potentially worse outcome in case of a COVID-19 infection or increasing the probability of being dependent on postoperative ICU care, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, diabetes mellitus and chronic lung, kidney or liver disease. † Complications according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification.

To defer or not to defer? A German longitudinal multicentric assessment of clinical practice in urology during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Major urological surgeries require a postoperative stay of at least 4-10 days, a time span that largely covers the incubation period of COVID-19 [14]. In a German study of 337 patients after radical prostatectomy (February to April 2020), no clinically evident COVID-19 infection occurred in the early postoperative time [15]. Accordingly, only a minority of the respondents reported COVID-19 positive patients in their departments in March and April.…”

Avoiding disruption of timely surgical management of genitourinary cancers during the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…In the uro‐oncology field, timely patient selection based on priority criteria for surgical treatment was advocated [8]. We enjoyed reading the report from the Martini Clinic, a renowned high‐volume centre for prostate cancer surgery, where favourable outcomes were obtained without implementing rigorous screening measures, and by only applying strict protective hygiene standards [9]. Albeit remarkable, their experience might not be applicable to countries with different demographics, health systems, hospital resources, and testing capabilities.…”

“…There are both similarities and differences between our experience and that reported by Würnschimmel et al . [9]. As discussed, there was a different impact of the pandemic in Germany vs Italy.…”

Uroonkologische Therapie in der ersten Welle der COVID-19-Pandemie

“…2) Ist umgekehrt eine COVID-19-Erkrankung vor einer uroonkologischen Operation ein Risikofaktor für Komplikationen? Es finden sich zu diesen beiden Fragestellungen bisher nur sehr wenige Referenzen in der Literatur [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”