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A snapshot of European neurosurgery December 2019 vs. March 2020: just before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19), which began as an epidemic in China and spread globally as a pandemic, has necessitated resource management to meet emergency needs of Covid-19 patients and other emergent cases. We have conducted a survey to analyze caseload and measures to adapt indications for a perception of crisis. METHODS:We constructed a questionnaire to survey a snapshot of neurosurgical activity, resources, and indications during 1 week with usual activity in December 2019 and 1 week during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in March 2020. The questionnaire was sent to 34 neurosurgical departments in Europe; 25 departments returned responses within 5 days. RESULTS:We found unexpectedly large differences in resources and indications already before the pandemic. Differences were also large in how much practice and resources changed during the pandemic. Neurosurgical beds and neuro-intensive care beds were significantly decreased from December 2019 to March 2020. The utilization of resources decreased via less demand for care of brain injuries and subarachnoid hemorrhage, postponing surgery and changed surgical indications as a method of rationing resources. Twenty departments (80%) reduced activity extensively, and the same proportion stated that they were no longer able to provide care according to legitimate medical needs. CONCLUSION:Neurosurgical centers responded swiftly and effectively to a sudden decrease of neurosurgical capacity due to relocation of resources to pandemic care. The pandemic led to rationing of neurosurgical care in 80% of responding centers. We saw a relation between resources before the pandemic and ability to uphold neurosurgical services. The observation of extensive differences of available beds provided an opportunity to show how resources that had been restricted already under normal conditions translated to rationing of care that may not be acceptable to the public of seemingly affluent European countries.

SUBMITTER: Mathiesen T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7343382 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A snapshot of European neurosurgery December 2019 vs. March 2020: just before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mathiesen T T Arraez M M Asser T T Balak N N Barazi S S Bernucci C C Bolger C C Broekman M L D MLD Demetriades A K AK Feldman Z Z Fontanella M M MM Foroglou N N Lafuente J J Maier A D AD Meyer B B Niemelä M M Roche P H PH Sala F F Samprón N N Sandvik U U Schaller K K Thome C C Thys M M Tisell M M Vajkoczy P P Visocchi M M

Acta neurochirurgica 20200708 9

<h4>Background</h4>Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19), which began as an epidemic in China and spread globally as a pandemic, has necessitated resource management to meet emergency needs of Covid-19 patients and other emergent cases. We have conducted a survey to analyze caseload and measures to adapt indications for a perception of crisis.<h4>Methods</h4>We constructed a questionnaire to survey a snapshot of neurosurgical activity, resources, and indication ...[more]

PMID: 32642834

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Project description:ObjectivesGiven finite ICU bed capacity, knowledge of ICU bed utilization during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is critical to ensure future strategies for resource allocation and utilization. We sought to examine ICU census trends in relation to ICU bed capacity during the rapid increase in severe coronavirus disease 2019 cases early during the pandemic.DesignObservational cohort study.SettingThirteen geographically dispersed academic medical centers in the United States.Patients/subjectsWe obtained daily ICU censuses from March 26 to June 30, 2020, as well as prepandemic ICU bed capacities. The primary outcome was daily census of ICU patients stratified by coronavirus disease 2019 and mechanical ventilation status in relation to ICU capacity.InterventionsNone.Measurements and main resultsPrepandemic overall ICU capacity ranged from 62 to 225 beds (median 109). During the study period, the median daily coronavirus disease 2019 ICU census per hospital ranged from 1 to 84 patients, and the daily ICU census exceeded overall ICU capacity for at least 1 day at five institutions. The number of critically ill patients exceeded ICU capacity for a median (interquartile range) of 17 (12-50) of 97 days at these five sites. All 13 institutions experienced decreases in their noncoronavirus disease ICU population, whereas local coronavirus disease 2019 cases increased. Coronavirus disease 2019 patients reached their greatest proportion of ICU capacity on April 12, 2020, when they accounted for 44% of ICU patients across all participating hospitals. Maximum ICU census ranged from 52% to 289% of overall ICU capacity, with three sites less than 80%, four sites 80-100%, five sites 100-128%, and one site 289%.ConclusionsFrom March to June 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to ICU censuses greater than ICU bed capacity at fives of 13 institutions evaluated. These findings demonstrate the short-term adaptability of U.S. healthcare institutions in redirecting limited resources to accommodate a public health emergency.

Dataset Information

A snapshot of European neurosurgery December 2019 vs. March 2020: just before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Publications

A snapshot of European neurosurgery December 2019 vs. March 2020: just before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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