When to Operate, Hesitate and Reintegrate: Society of Gynecologic Oncology Surgical Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Publication/Presentation Date
8-1-2020
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our ability to provide timely surgical care for our patients. In response, the U.S. Surgeon General, the American College of Srugeons, and other surgical professional societies recommended postponing elective surgical procedures and proceeding cautiously with cancer procedures that may require significant hospital resources and expose vulnerable patients to the virus. These challenges have particularly distressing for women with a gynecologic cancer diagnosis and their providers. Currently, circumstances vary greatly by region and by hospital, depending on COVID-19 prevalence, case mix, hospital type, and available resources. Therefore, COVID-19-related modifications to surgical practice guidelines must be individualized. Special consideration is necessary to evaluate the appropriateness of procedural interventions, recognizing the significant resources and personnel they require. Additionally, the pandemic may occur in waves, with patient demand for surgery ebbing and flowing accordingly. Hospitals, cancer centers and providers must prepare themselves to meet this demand. The purpose of this white paper is to highlight all phases of gynecologic cancer surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic and to illustrate when it is best to operate, to hestitate, and reintegrate surgery. Triage and prioritization of surgical cases, preoperative COVID-19 testing, peri-operative safety principles, and preparations for the post-COVID-19 peak and surgical reintegration are reviewed.
Volume
158
Issue
2
First Page
236
Last Page
243
ISSN
1095-6859
Published In/Presented At
Fader, A., Huh, W., Kesterson, J., Pothuri, B., Wethington, S., Wright, J., Bakkum-Gamez, J., Soliman, P., Sinno, A., Leitao, M., Martino, M. A., Karam, A., Rossi, E., Brown, J., Blank, S., Burke, W., Goff, B., Yamada, S., Uppal, S., & Dowdy, S. (2020). When to Operate, Hesitate and Reintegrate: Society of Gynecologic Oncology Surgical Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic.. LVHN Scholarly Works. Retrieved from https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/obstetrics-gynecology/761
Disciplines
Obstetrics and Gynecology | Oncology | Surgery
PubMedID
32532460
Department(s)
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article