Cochlear Implant Surgery During the Covid Pandemic Lockdown—The KEM Hospital, Pune Experience
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Vaid N
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7568760 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Similar Datasets
Project description:(1) Background: The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has been recognized by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern and has caused cancellation of elective cochlear implantation in many countries. This article sets out our experience with resuming cochlear implant (CI) surgery under COVID-19 conditions over a period of 3 months. In addition, early results of hearing preservation (HP) after CI surgery are presented; (2) Methods: We adopted epidemic management policies and procedures according to the National Consultant for Infectious Diseases recommendations. During preoperative visits, all patients were tested for COVID-19 with a RT-PCR test. One month postoperatively, HP values in the Partial Deafness Treatment (PDT) group of patients was established using the HEARRING group formula; (3) Results: Between January and March 2021, we performed 312 CI procedures in adult and pediatric patients. Of these, none were subsequently re-admitted to hospital and found to be COVID-19 positive. Postoperative audiometric results showed that complete or partial HP was achieved in more than half the PDT patients; (4) Conclusion: Cochlear implantation during the coronavirus disease pandemic is essential and, with careful planning, is perfectly feasible.
| S-EPMC8466866 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the spine surgeon had to deal with some new challenges in treating emergency spine cases. This paper aimed to report our experience with spine emergency surgery during the pandemic, with already limited resources for surgery.MethodsThis was a retrospective, single-center study, involving all patients admitted to our hospital during a period of 1st March - 31st December 2020 and underwent emergent spinal surgery. The data were collected from the patients' medical records.ResultsWe found 15 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Four patients were suspected to be infected by COVID-19, but none of them was confirmed to be infected by COVID-19 based on the PCR test. All patients had a history of injury: fell from height (53.3%), traffic accident (40%), and direct trauma (6.7%). The average time interval from injury to hospital admission was 38.6 h, from admission to surgery was 6.3 days, and from injury to surgery was 8.1 days. The patient who was suspected to be infected with COVID-19 has a significantly greater time interval from admission to surgery (p = 0.012). The surgery lasted for 3-6 h, with an average of 4.6 h. The average hospital stay duration was 13.3 days and it has a significant positive correlation with the time interval from admission to surgery (p = 0.001). Three months post-operatively, seven patients experienced an improvement in the Frankel grade, 4 patients had no changes in Frankel grade, and 2 patients died.ConclusionTo our experience, the lack of human and material resources during the pandemic caused some delay in surgery. However, surgery performed later than 24 h during the pandemic might still bring benefit to the patient.
| S-EPMC8214822 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This paper uses a panel data approach to assess the evolution of economic consequences of the drastic lockdown policy in the epicenter of COVID-19-the Hubei Province of China during worldwide curbs on economic activity. We find that the drastic 76-day COVID-19 lockdown policy brought huge negative impacts on Hubei's economy. In 2020:q1, the lockdown quarter, the treatment effect on GDP was about 37% of the counterfactual. However, the drastic lockdown also brought the spread of COVID-19 under control in little more than two months. After the government lifted the lockdown in early April, the economy quickly recovered with the exception of passenger transportation sector which rebounded not as quickly as the rest of the general economy.
| S-EPMC8426843 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objective/hypothesisInvestigate potential problems in the daily life communication of cochlear implant (CI) patients due to the widespread use of face masks in public places during the COVID-19 pandemic.Study designProspective survey study.MethodsThis study used an online questionnaire about the effects of face masks on daily life communication of adult CI users. The questionnaire consists of three parts: (a) A face mask questionnaire, (b) loneliness question (c) three subdomains of the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire to assess quality of life. The questionnaires were send out on October 20, 2020. Four hundred and seven adult CI users were invited to participate in the study. The survey inclusion was closed on November 5, 2020. The study setting was the Rotterdam Cochlear Implant Center, Erasmus MC, a tertiary referral center in The Netherlands. The loneliness question and Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire were analyzed for possible differences between the current situation with masks and the situation before, when masks were not commonly used.ResultsTwo hundred and twenty one adult CI users (54% female, mean age 62 years) participated in the study. The face mask questionnaire showed that face masks cause considerable problems in daily life communication of 80% of the participants. Also, CI users tend to feel more lonely and all used subdomains of the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire worsened due to the use of face masks.ConclusionThe widespread use of face masks greatly complicates the daily life communication of CI users and reduces quality of life.Level of evidence3.
| S-EPMC8223455 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019, many countries around the world have imposed lockdown measures in order to reduce virus spread. Social isolation is known to have a significant psychological impact, potentially triggering alcohol misuse in adults. In our study, we aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 lockdown measures on alcohol consumption in adults in Bavaria.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 2067 participants, with 1961 young adults (mean age 23.3 ± 4.1) and 106 mature adults (mean age 66.7 ± 9.7). Participants were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire, semi-quantitatively evaluating the alcohol drinking behaviour before and during the pandemic lockdown.ResultsAfter implementation of lockdown, the alteration of alcohol consumption was significantly different between young and mature adults (p < 0.001). Among young adults, 42% reported unchanged drinking behaviour compared to 76% in the mature adult group; 44% of young adults reported to drink less compared to only 7% of mature adults. An increase in alcohol consumption was only reported by 14% of young adults and 17% of mature adults. Interestingly, in the entire cohort, the change of alcohol intake was most pronounced among moderate drinkers (> 0 to < 5 drinks/week) in both age groups (p < 0.001). Ordinal logistic regression revealed female sex, low BMI and younger age to be associated with a decrease in number of self-reported drinks/week.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic lockdown significantly affected alcohol drinking behaviour. Further studies exploring long-term effects on potential alcohol misuse and the relevance on public health are warranted.Trial registrationThe study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT04361877 ) on April 24, 2020.
| S-EPMC8112739 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:The Covid-19 pandemic led to a complete renewal of clinical activities of Italian hospitals. During the lockdown, all hospitals in Italy had to suspend non-urgent clinical activities. The prolonged suspension of elective activities could have caused a series of problems. METHODS:A new ad hoc protocol was designed. Single-day fast-imaging protocol with regadenoson-stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin imaging was preferred. Patients were contacted by phone 4 days before the test and answered to a questionnaire which will be repeated on the day of the exam. Body temperature <37.5 degrees C and no Covid-19 symptoms were necessary to enter the unit. Patients wore surgical mask and gloves. Social distancing was maintained throughout the examination. Healthcare professionals wore a personal protective equipment. RESULTS:A total of 46 patients were studied from April 7 to May 15, 2020, before the publication of the recommendations from ASNC and SNMMI. None of the patients experienced complications. Follow-up of patients discharged was carried by phone. No Covid-19 infection symptoms were reported. On May 18, 2020 all the healthcare providers of nuclear cardiology department underwent serological testing IgG and IgM and none were positive. CONCLUSION:Strict ad hoc hygiene protocol for Covid-19 pandemic avoids diagnostic-therapeutic delay and lengthening of waiting lists. Our experience confirms that pursuing WHO recommendations and recent indication of ASNC and SNMMI is safe for both health providers and patients. Moreover, the incidence of significant inducible ischemia rises when correct stratification of patients is performed.
| S-EPMC7394269 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This study aimed to examine the impact of quarantine on eating habits and lifestyle behaviors among the Lebanese adult population. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire designed on Google Forms between 3 June and 28 June 2020. The survey questions were adapted from the Short Food Frequency Questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form, and the second version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. A total of 2,507 adults completed the questionnaire. During the lockdown, 32.8% claimed weight gain, 44.7% did not eat fruits daily, 35.3% did not eat vegetables on daily basis, and 72.9% reported drinking less than eight cups of water per day. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the number of meals consumed per day, consumption of homemade meals, sedentary time, stress, and sleeping disturbances during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic (all p < 0.001). However, there was a significant decrease in physical activity engagement, sleep quality, and energy level during the lockdown compared to before the pandemic (all p < 0.001). The study highlights that the COVID-19 lockdown was associated with unfavorable changes in dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors in Lebanon. Sleep and mental health were also negatively impacted by the pandemic.
| S-EPMC8435593 | biostudies-literature
Project description:As the COVID-19 spreads across the world, many nations impose lockdown measures at the early stage of the pandemic to prevent the spread of the disease. Controversy surrounds the lockdown as it is a choice between economic freedom and public health. The ultimate solution to a pandemic is to vaccinate a massive population to achieve herd immunity. However, the whole vaccination programme is a long and complicated process. The virus and the vaccine will persist for quite a long time. How to gradually ease the lockdown based on vaccination progress is an important issue, as both economic and epidemiological issues are involved. In this paper, we extend the classic SIR model to find optimal decision making to balance between economy and public health in the process of vaccination rollout. The model provides an approach of vaccine value estimation. Our results provide scientific suggestion for policymakers to make important decisions about when to start the lockdown and how strong it should be over the entire vaccination cycle.
| S-EPMC8119293 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Magnetic cochlear implant surgery requires removal of a magnet via a heating process after implant insertion, which may cause thermal trauma within the ear. Intra-cochlear heat transfer analysis is required to ensure that the magnet removal phase is thermally safe. The objective of this work is to determine the safe range of input power density to detach the magnet without causing thermal trauma in the ear, and to analyze the effectiveness of natural convection with respect to conduction for removing the excess heat. A finite element model of an uncoiled cochlea, which is verified and validated, is applied to determine the range of maximum safe input power density to detach a 1-mm-long, 0.5-mm-diameter cylindrical magnet from the cochlear implant electrode array tip. It is shown that heat dissipation in the cochlea is primarily mediated by conduction through the electrode array. The electrode array simultaneously reduces natural convection due to the no-slip boundary condition on its surface and increases axial conduction in the cochlea. It is concluded that natural convection heat transfer in a cochlea during robotic cochlear implant surgery can be neglected. It is found that thermal trauma is avoided by applying a power density from 2.265 × 107 W/m3 for 114 s to 6.6×107 W/m3 for 9 s resulting in a maximum temperature increase of 6°C on the magnet boundary.
| S-EPMC7405954 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Hamad General Hospital Anticoagulation Clinic is one of the largest collaborative-practice clinics of its type in Qatar. The patients being followed at this clinic are typically complex and vulnerable. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, measures were implemented at the clinic to minimize the exposure of patients and healthcare providers to the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 and to promote social distancing. These measures included extending INR-recall period, transitioning to direct oral anticoagulant drugs whenever feasible, home visits to elderly and immunocompromised patients for INR testing, establishing an anticoagulation hotline, and relocation of warfarin dispensing from the main pharmacy to the anticoagulation clinic. In addition, the clinic shifted its multidisciplinary team meetings onto an online platform using Microsoft Teams. Telehealth consultations were extensively utilized to closely follow up with the patients and ensure that anticoagulation efficacy and safety remained optimal. The aim of this paper is to share our experience and describe the measures adopted by the clinic as part of the Hamad Medical Corporation response to the emerging situation.
| S-EPMC7533116 | biostudies-literature