TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical care in the Netherlands
AU - De Graaff, Michelle R
AU - Hogenbirk, Rianne N M
AU - Janssen, Yester F
AU - Elfrink, Arthur K E
AU - Liem, Ronald S L
AU - Nienhuijs, Simon W
AU - De Vries, Jean Paul P M
AU - Elshof, Jan Willem
AU - Verdaasdonk, Emiel
AU - Melenhorst, Jarno
AU - Van Westreenen, H L
AU - Besselink, Marc G H
AU - Ruurda, Jelle P
AU - Van Berge Henegouwen, Mark I
AU - Klaase, Joost M
AU - Den Dulk, Marcel
AU - Van Heijl, Mark
AU - Hegeman, Johannes H
AU - Braun, Jerry
AU - Voeten, Daan M
AU - Würdemann, Franka S
AU - Warps, Anne Loes K
AU - Alberga, Anna J
AU - Suurmeijer, J Annelie
AU - Akpinar, Erman O
AU - Wolfhagen, Nienke
AU - Van Den Boom, Anne Loes
AU - Bolster-van Eenennaam, Marieke J
AU - Van Duijvendijk, Peter
AU - Heineman, David J
AU - Wouters, Michel W J M
AU - Kruijff, Schelto
AU - Helleman, J N
AU - Koningswoud-terhoeve, C L
AU - Belt, E
AU - Van Der Hoeven, J A B
AU - Marres, G M H
AU - Tozzi, F
AU - Von Meyenfeldt, E M
AU - Coebergh, R R J
AU - Van Den Braak, H.P.
AU - Rijken, A M
AU - Balm, R
AU - Daams, F
AU - Dickhoff, C
AU - Eshuis, W J
AU - Gisbertz, S S
AU - Zandbergen, H R
AU - Geelkerken, R H
AU - Halfwerk, F R
AU - Dutch CovidSurg Collaborative Study Group
N1 - Lay Summary
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on healthcare worldwide. Hospital visits were reduced, operating facilities were used for COVID-19 care, and cancer screening programmes were cancelled. This study describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Dutch surgical healthcare in 2020. Patterns of care in terms of changed or delayed treatment are described for patients who had surgery in 2020, compared with those who had surgery in 2018–2019. The study found that mainly non-cancer surgical treatments were cancelled during months with high COVID-19 rates. Outcomes for patients undergoing surgery were similar but with fewer ICU admissions and shorter hospital stay. These data provide no insight into the burden endured by patients who had postponed or cancelled operations.
PY - 2022/12/1
Y1 - 2022/12/1
N2 - BackgroundThe
COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption of regular healthcare leading to
reduced hospital attendances, repurposing of surgical facilities, and
cancellation of cancer screening programmes. This study aimed to
determine the impact of COVID-19 on surgical care in the Netherlands.MethodsA
nationwide study was conducted in collaboration with the Dutch
Institute for Clinical Auditing. Eight surgical audits were expanded
with items regarding alterations in scheduling and treatment plans. Data
on procedures performed in 2020 were compared with those from a
historical cohort (2018–2019). Endpoints included total numbers of
procedures performed and altered treatment plans. Secondary endpoints
included complication, readmission, and mortality rates.ResultsSome
12 154 procedures were performed in participating hospitals in 2020,
representing a decrease of 13.6 per cent compared with 2018–2019. The
largest reduction (29.2 per cent) was for non-cancer procedures during
the first COVID-19 wave. Surgical treatment was postponed for 9.6 per
cent of patients. Alterations in surgical treatment plans were observed
in 1.7 per cent. Time from diagnosis to surgery decreased (to 28 days in
2020, from 34 days in 2019 and 36 days in 2018; P < 0.001). For cancer-related procedures, duration of hospital stay decreased (5 versus 6 days; P < 0.001). Audit-specific complications, readmission, and mortality rates were unchanged, but ICU admissions decreased (16.5 versus 16.8 per cent; P < 0.001).ConclusionThe
reduction in the number of surgical operations was greatest for those
without cancer. Where surgery was undertaken, it appeared to be
delivered safely, with similar complication and mortality rates, fewer
admissions to ICU, and a shorter hospital stay.
AB - BackgroundThe
COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption of regular healthcare leading to
reduced hospital attendances, repurposing of surgical facilities, and
cancellation of cancer screening programmes. This study aimed to
determine the impact of COVID-19 on surgical care in the Netherlands.MethodsA
nationwide study was conducted in collaboration with the Dutch
Institute for Clinical Auditing. Eight surgical audits were expanded
with items regarding alterations in scheduling and treatment plans. Data
on procedures performed in 2020 were compared with those from a
historical cohort (2018–2019). Endpoints included total numbers of
procedures performed and altered treatment plans. Secondary endpoints
included complication, readmission, and mortality rates.ResultsSome
12 154 procedures were performed in participating hospitals in 2020,
representing a decrease of 13.6 per cent compared with 2018–2019. The
largest reduction (29.2 per cent) was for non-cancer procedures during
the first COVID-19 wave. Surgical treatment was postponed for 9.6 per
cent of patients. Alterations in surgical treatment plans were observed
in 1.7 per cent. Time from diagnosis to surgery decreased (to 28 days in
2020, from 34 days in 2019 and 36 days in 2018; P < 0.001). For cancer-related procedures, duration of hospital stay decreased (5 versus 6 days; P < 0.001). Audit-specific complications, readmission, and mortality rates were unchanged, but ICU admissions decreased (16.5 versus 16.8 per cent; P < 0.001).ConclusionThe
reduction in the number of surgical operations was greatest for those
without cancer. Where surgery was undertaken, it appeared to be
delivered safely, with similar complication and mortality rates, fewer
admissions to ICU, and a shorter hospital stay.
U2 - 10.1093/bjs/znac301
DO - 10.1093/bjs/znac301
M3 - Article
SN - 0007-1323
VL - 109
SP - 1282
EP - 1292
JO - British journal of surgery
JF - British journal of surgery
IS - 12
M1 - znac301
ER -
