Stepping Forward: Urologists’ Efforts During the COVID-19 Outbreak in Singapore

Abstract

Escalation of the alert level mandated cessation of interhospital staff movement, with residents who were rotating in other hospitals remaining there indefinitely. Undergraduate E U R O P E A N U R O L O G Y X X X ( 2 0 1 9 ) X X X -X X X a v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e u r o p e a n u r o l o g y . c o m EURURO-8746; No. of Pages 2

COVID‐19 and urology: a comprehensive review of the literature

“…Several authorities and healthcare systems have taken unprecedented measures to contain the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 and to face the expected surge of patients with COVID‐19 [20‐22]. Primarily, some countries started a non‐invasive temperature/symptoms screening for travellers coming from China and/or endemic areas [23].…”

“…Furthermore, mass gathering events were cancelled or postponed including religious, sporting, musical and even medical conferences (including the European Association of Urology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association of Urology annual meetings) [22,25]. More strict healthcare measures were also adopted, such as the suspension of all non‐urgent elective surgeries [20,26] and the limitation of inpatient and outpatient services to critically ill patients, while increasing the critical care capacity [7,21,26]. In addition, some governments have increased financial support to healthcare systems [27] and increased their reserves of personal protective equipment [28].…”

“…Chan et al [21] discussed the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on residency training programmes and undergraduate education based on their experience in Singapore, reporting that this pandemic has resulted in the freezing of all interhospital staff movement, with residents having training in other hospitals staying there indefinitely. Furthermore, all undergraduate clinical rounds were cancelled and all the teaching activities (for residents and undergraduates) were switched to the online platforms [21]. Similarly, medical training programmes in the UK are likely to be cancelled or disrupted in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic; however, efforts are ongoing to ensure that these actions will not compromise the long‐term needs of medical trainees [38].…”

Managing change in the urology department of a large hospital in Italy during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…1 Although ICUD in RARC has been promoted in a few high-volume centers, ECUD is more acceptable in RARC and LRC, because it currently has a lower rate of complications. 2,3 However, even in ECUD, intracorporeal NB-urethral anastomosis is technically difficult, because the pelvic space is limited, and excessive tension must be applied between the NB and urethra. In 2017, we reported on "a temporary single-pulling" technique that stabilized the NB and provided clear visualization of the anastomotic site without excessive tension for intracorporeal NBurethral anastomosis.…”

Protocolo de intervenção do Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia de um hospital universitário de alta complexidade para enfrentamento da pandemia de COVID-19

“…Urologists and dermatologists are taking measures similar to ours, including suspending elective surgeries, decreasing patient flow in outpatient clinics and adequate use of the PPE. [18][19][20] Anesthesiologists are adapting their procedures and equipment to assist patients with COVID-19, and they are also suggesting new routines for surgical centers. [14][15][16] We hope that our report and suggestions for intervention measures will help other Orthopedics services and encourage other specialties to share their experiences and develop new protocols to fight this pandemic.…”