Clinical Scorecard: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Volume and Postoperative Survival in Oncology: A Retrospective Study Across a Regional German Hospital Network

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• Surgical volume decreased significantly during the pandemic, with a minimum of 20 procedures recorded in April 2020.
• UICC stage IV disease increased during the pandemic period (26.8%) compared to pre-pandemic (23.9%) and post-pandemic (24.2%).
• Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated a trend toward reduced postoperative overall survival during the pandemic (log-rank p = 0.066).
• The pre-pandemic cohort had a lower hazard of death compared to the pandemic cohort (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65-0.93; p = 0.005).
• The study evaluated 2871 oncological surgical procedures across three periods: pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions should begin without unnecessary postponement.

Management

• Avoid intervals exceeding four weeks from diagnosis to treatment initiation.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Monitor surgical volume and tumor stage distribution across different periods.

Risks

• Prolonged waiting periods are associated with greater risks of tumor progression and metastasis.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients undergoing gastrointestinal and endocrine oncological procedures.

Surgical management often involves extended hospitalization and potential ICU admission.

Clinical Best Practices

• Maintain resilient healthcare infrastructures to support continuous oncological care.
• Ensure timely surgical interventions to improve patient outcomes.

Related Resources & Content

• Study on surgical volume and COVID-19 impact