The Impact of COVID-19 on Gastric Cancer Surgery: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Patients with cancer are more likely to incur poor clinical outcomes. Due to the prevailing pandemic, we propose some surgical strategies for gastric cancer patients.
Methods: The ‘COVID-19’ period was defined as occurring between 2020-01-20 and 2020-03-20. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups, pre-COVID-19 group (PCG) and COVID-19 group (CG). A total of 109 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in this study.
Results: The waiting time before admission increased by 4 days in the CG (PCG: 4.5 [IQR: 2, 7.8] vs. CG: 8.0 [IQR: 2,20]; p=0.006). More patients had performed chest CT scans besides abdominal CT before admission during the COVID-19 period (PCG: 22 [32%] vs. CG: 30 [73%], p=0.001). After admission during the COVID period, the waiting time before surgery was longer (PCG: 3[IQR: 2,5] vs. CG: 7[IQR: 5,9]; p<0.001), more laparoscopic surgeries were performed (PCG: 51[75%] vs. CG: 38[92%], p=0.021), and hospital stay period after surgery was longer (7[IQR: 6,8] vs.9[IQR:7,11]; p<0.001). In addition, the total cost of hospitalization increased during this period, (PCG: 9.22[IQR:7.82,10.97] vs. CG: 10.42[IQR:8.99,12.57]; p=0.006).
Conclusion: This study provides an opportunity for our surgical colleagues to reflect on their own services and any contingency plans they may have to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.
Figure 1
Posted 23 Sep, 2020
Received 14 Sep, 2020
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On 11 Sep, 2020
On 11 Sep, 2020
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On 10 Sep, 2020
Received 07 Aug, 2020
On 07 Aug, 2020
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Received 28 Jul, 2020
Received 26 Jul, 2020
On 10 Jul, 2020
On 09 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 09 Jul, 2020
On 03 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 12 Jun, 2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on Gastric Cancer Surgery: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Posted 23 Sep, 2020
Received 14 Sep, 2020
On 11 Sep, 2020
Invitations sent on 11 Sep, 2020
On 11 Sep, 2020
On 11 Sep, 2020
On 10 Sep, 2020
On 10 Sep, 2020
Received 07 Aug, 2020
On 07 Aug, 2020
On 29 Jul, 2020
On 28 Jul, 2020
Received 28 Jul, 2020
Received 26 Jul, 2020
On 10 Jul, 2020
On 09 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 09 Jul, 2020
On 03 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 12 Jun, 2020
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Patients with cancer are more likely to incur poor clinical outcomes. Due to the prevailing pandemic, we propose some surgical strategies for gastric cancer patients.
Methods: The ‘COVID-19’ period was defined as occurring between 2020-01-20 and 2020-03-20. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups, pre-COVID-19 group (PCG) and COVID-19 group (CG). A total of 109 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in this study.
Results: The waiting time before admission increased by 4 days in the CG (PCG: 4.5 [IQR: 2, 7.8] vs. CG: 8.0 [IQR: 2,20]; p=0.006). More patients had performed chest CT scans besides abdominal CT before admission during the COVID-19 period (PCG: 22 [32%] vs. CG: 30 [73%], p=0.001). After admission during the COVID period, the waiting time before surgery was longer (PCG: 3[IQR: 2,5] vs. CG: 7[IQR: 5,9]; p<0.001), more laparoscopic surgeries were performed (PCG: 51[75%] vs. CG: 38[92%], p=0.021), and hospital stay period after surgery was longer (7[IQR: 6,8] vs.9[IQR:7,11]; p<0.001). In addition, the total cost of hospitalization increased during this period, (PCG: 9.22[IQR:7.82,10.97] vs. CG: 10.42[IQR:8.99,12.57]; p=0.006).
Conclusion: This study provides an opportunity for our surgical colleagues to reflect on their own services and any contingency plans they may have to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.
Figure 1