Avoiding collateral mortality in a pandemic - time to change our mindset in surgical oncology

Ker-Kan Tan; Brendan J Moran; Michael J Solomon

doi:10.1038/s41571-020-0383-1

Avoiding collateral mortality in a pandemic - time to change our mindset in surgical oncology

Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2020 Jul;17(7):383-385. doi: 10.1038/s41571-020-0383-1.

Authors

Ker-Kan Tan^{1

2}, Brendan J Moran³, Michael J Solomon^{4

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
² Division of Colorectal Surgery, University Surgical Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
³ Peritoneal Malignancy Institute, North Hampshire Hospital Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK.
⁴ Department of Colorectal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. [email protected].
⁵ Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. [email protected].
⁶ The Institute of Academic Surgery (IAS), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital-University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia. [email protected].

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has become the focus of attention worldwide, and herein we seek to highlight the potential problem of ‘collateral mortality’ from delayed or deferred treatments in patients with cancer. We propose potential solutions to ensure continuity of care in the field of surgical oncology.

MeSH terms

Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
COVID-19
Coronavirus Infections / complications*
Coronavirus Infections / virology
Humans
Neoplasms / mortality*
Neoplasms / surgery*
Neoplasms / virology
Occupational Health
Pandemics
Patient Selection*
Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
Pneumonia, Viral / virology
Practice Guidelines as Topic / standards*
Prognosis
SARS-CoV-2
Surgical Oncology / standards*
Survival Rate
Time-to-Treatment