Dataset Information

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the healthcare access, treatment, and follow-up of oncologic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected consultation and follow-up demand as well as treatment volume at Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery centers.

Methods

An anonymous online questionnaire was used for collection of data across all Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers across a 3-month period (April‒June 2021). This information included the characteristics of each center, and the perceived self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic activities, residency training, and the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with Head and Neck diseases between 2019 and 2020.

Results

The response rate across the 40 registered Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers was 47.5% (n=19). The data showed a significant reduction in the total number of consultations (24.8%) and number of attending patients (20.2%) between 2019 and 2020. The total number of diagnostic exams (31.6%) and surgical procedures (13.0%) conducted over this period also decreased significantly.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant national impact on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers. Future studies should examine the long-term effects of the pandemic on cancer treatment.

Level of evidence

Evidence from a single descriptive study.

SUBMITTER: Alvarenga GF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9884113 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers.

Alvarenga Gustavo Fernandes de GF Nogueira Leite Ana Kober AK Lehn Carlos Neutzling CN Dedivitis Rogério Aparecido RA Yumi Nakai Marianne M Cavalheiro Beatriz Godoi BG Vaz Teixeira Gilberto G De Cicco Rafael R Kowalski Luiz Paulo LP Matos Leandro Luongo de LL

Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology 20230128 3

<h4>Objective</h4>The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable impact on the healthcare access, treatment, and follow-up of oncologic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected consultation and follow-up demand as well as treatment volume at Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery centers.<h4>Methods</h4>An anonymous online questionnaire was used for collection of data across all Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers across a 3-month period (Apri ...[more]

PMID: 36803803

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Project description:The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious zoonosis produced by SARS-CoV-2 that is spread human-to-human by respiratory secretions. It was declared by the WHO as a public health emergency. The most susceptible populations, needing mechanical ventilation, are the elderly and people with associated comorbidities. There is an important risk of contagion for anesthetists, dentists, head and neck surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons, ophthalmologists, and otolaryngologists. Health workers represent between 3.8% and 20% of the infected population; some 15% will develop severe complaints and among them, many will lose their lives. A large number of patients do not have overt signs and symptoms (fever/respiratory), yet pose a real risk to surgeons (who should know this fact and must therefore apply respiratory protective strategies for all patients they encounter). All interventions that have the potential to aerosolize aerodigestive secretions should be avoided or used only when mandatory. Health workers who are: pregnant, over 55 to 65?years of age, with a history of chronic diseases (uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and all clinical scenarios where immunosuppression is feasible, including that induced to treat chronic inflammatory conditions and organ transplants) should avoid the clinical attention of a potentially infected patient. Health care facilities should prioritize urgent and emergency visits and procedures until the present condition stabilizes; truly elective care should cease and discussed on a case-by-case basis for patients with cancer. For those who are working with COVID-19 infected patients' isolation is compulsory in the following settings: (a) unprotected close contact with COVID-19 pneumonia patients; (b) onset of fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other symptoms (gastrointestinal complaints, anosmia, and dysgeusia have been reported in a minority of cases). For any care or intervention in the upper aerodigestive tract region, irrespective of the setting and a confirmed diagnosis (eg, rhinoscopy or flexible laryngoscopy in the outpatient setting and tracheostomy or rigid endoscopy under anesthesia), it is strongly recommended that all health care personnel wear personal protective equipment such as N95, gown, cap, eye protection, and gloves. The procedures described are essential in trying to maintain safety of health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, otolaryngologists, head and neck, and maxillofacial surgeons are per se exposed to the greatest risk of infection while caring for COVID-19 positive subjects, and their protection should be considered a priority in the present circumstances.

Dataset Information

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Level of evidence

Publications

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Brazilian Head and Neck Surgery Centers.

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