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

Miguel Mayo-Yáñez; José M. Palacios-García; Christian Calvo-Henríquez; Tareck Ayad; Nadim Saydy; Xavier León; Pablo Parente; Carlos Miguel Chiesa-Estomba; Jérôme R. Lechien

doi:10.1055/s-0041-1736425

International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology, Table of Contents

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

¹Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France

²Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Galicia, Spain

³Clinical 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

¹Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France

⁴Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena (HUVM), Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain

,

Christian Calvo-Henríquez

¹Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France

³Clinical Research in Medicine, International Center for Doctorate and Advanced Studies (CIEDUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

⁷Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

,

Tareck Ayad

¹Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France

⁸Division of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

,

Nadim Saydy

¹Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France

⁸Division of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

,

Xavier León

⁹Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España

¹⁰Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, España

,

Pablo Parente

²Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Galicia, Spain

,

Carlos Miguel Chiesa-Estomba

¹Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France

¹¹Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Donostia, Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain

,

Jérôme R. Lechien

¹Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS) Study Group, Paris, France

²Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Galicia, Spain

⁵Human Anatomy & Experimental Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine UMONS Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons (UMons), Mons, Belgium

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

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

Full Text

References

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