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883 Surgical oncology for non-COVID-19 patients during the pandemic
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  1. K Ben Hamida1,
  2. H Bouaziz1,
  3. A Jellali1,
  4. N Tounsi1,
  5. H Bouzaiene1,
  6. M Hsairi2,
  7. M Slimane1 and
  8. K Rahal1
  1. 1Salah Azaiez Institute of Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Tunis, Tunisia
  2. 2Salah Azaiez Institute of Oncology, Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Tunisia

Abstract

Introduction/Background*The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the standard of care of medicine worldwide into a “public health emergency of international concern. “

Cancer patients are a unique population in that they are vulnerable to COVID-19, particularly if immunocompromised, and also, their oncologic outcome is based on the type and timing of the treatment.

Methodology A retrospective review comparing all surgical activities between the year before COVID-19 and the year after.

This study was conducted in the Surgical Oncology Department in Salah Azaiez Institute of Oncology, the reference cancer care center in Tunisia.

Result(s)*In our center, we created a new surgical procedures team.

There was a significant reduction in the median daily breast surgery, superficial surgery, and ambulatory surgery (< 0,001). But not all operation types decreasing in frequency.

Three months after COVID -19, we selected patients for laparotomy and decreased our activity by 50%.

Starting from June 2020, we have increased our activity to exceed that of 2019. No increase in mortality or morbidity from treatment during COVID-19 for operated patients.

The total surgically consults volume decreased by 36,17% in the post-COVID-19 period, significantly reducing the median daily consult volume (p<0.001).

Conclusion*In this new context, the decision for surgery is driven not only by what is best for the individual patient but also by the concern for transmitting COVID-19 to patients and health care workers.

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