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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 25(04): e610-e615
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736425
Original Research
Special Article COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic and its Impact on the Management of Head and Neck Cancer in the Spanish Healthcare System.

Miguel Mayo-Yáñez 
1   Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France
2   Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
3   Clinical Research in Medicine, International Center for Doctorate and Advanced Studies (CIEDUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
,
José M. Palacios-García 
1   Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France
4   Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena (HUVM), Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain
,
Christian Calvo-Henríquez 
1   Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France
3   Clinical Research in Medicine, International Center for Doctorate and Advanced Studies (CIEDUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
7   Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
,
Tareck Ayad
1   Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France
8   Division of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
,
Nadim Saydy 
1   Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France
8   Division of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
,
Xavier León 
9   Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
10   Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, España
,
Pablo Parente 
2   Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
,
Carlos Miguel Chiesa-Estomba 
1   Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France
11   Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Donostia, Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
,
Jérôme R. Lechien 
1   Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France
2   Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
5   Human Anatomy & Experimental Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine UMONS Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons (UMons), Mons, Belgium
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Abstract:

Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has represented a major challenge for healthcare systems worldwide, changing the habits of physicians. A reorganization of healthcare activity has been necessary, limiting surgical activity to essential cases (emergencies and oncology), and improving the distribution of health resources.

Objective To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on head and neck cancer surgery management in Spain.

Methods A cross-sectional study, through an anonymous and voluntary online survey distributed to 76 Spanish otorhinolaryngology departments.

Results A total of 44 centers completed the survey, 65.9% of which were high-volume. A total of 45.5% of them had to stop high-priority surgery and 54.5% of head and neck surgeons were relocated outside their scope of practice. Surgeons reported not feeling safe during their usual practice, with a decrease to a 25% of airway procedures. A total of 29.5% were “forced” to deviate from the “standard of care” due to the epidemiological situation.

Conclusions Approximately half of the departments decreased their activity, not treating their patients on a regular basis, and surgeons were reassigned to other tasks. It seems necessary that the head and neck surgeons balance infection risk with patient care. The consequences of the reported delays and changes in daily practice should be evaluated in the future in order to understand the real impact of the pandemic on the survival of head and neck cancer patients.

Keywords

COVID-19 - coronavirus - otolaryngology - aerosol generating procedures - personal protective equipment - cancer treatment - head neck surgery - mortality - morbidity


Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 10. Dezember 2020

Angenommen: 04. August 2021

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
29. Oktober 2021

© 2021. Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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