Caracterización del impacto de la pandemia por Covid- 19 en el servicio de cirugía Gineco-oncológica en dos instituciones de III nivel en Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: The declaration of a COVID-19 pandemic has generated multiple changes in the management of cancer patients for fear of contagion in health institutions, leading to postponing the beginning of treatments and prolonging follow-up times, without knowing the impact in the prognosis and survival of these patients. The present study describes the experience of an oncological gynecology group, which continued the surgical program without variations in patient volume or scheduling times, without presenting complications or cases of mortality from COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was carried out, which included 156 patients who were taken to scheduled surgery in the Oncological Gynecology Service, from March 15th to July 15th 2020. Symptomatic infection rates and mortality rates due to COVID 19 were described, with a follow-up up to 30 days after the surgical procedure in both patients and the group of surgeons

Results: 156 patients were recruited, from which 154 cases were analyzed. The average age of the patients was 50 years (21.4% older than 60 years). 13.4% of the patients were obese. 96.7% of the patients received general anesthesia. The most frequent oncological diagnosis was cervical carcinoma in 19.4% of the cases. The surgical approach was performed openly in 69% of cases and laparoscopically in 20%. Among the complications, surgical site infection was the most frequent (1.9%).

Conclusion: It is possible to continue with a timely and safe surgical oncological management, without increasing the rates of complications and mortality due to COVID-19 in patients and the surgical group.