Outcomes of elective head and neck confirmed or suspected cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Apr;278(4):1277-1282. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-06194-2. Epub 2020 Jul 15.

Abstract

Purpose: To analyse the complication outcomes of COVID-19 negative patients undergoing elective head and neck surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a retrospective case review of all patients undergoing elective head and neck surgery for confirmed or suspected head and neck cancer.

Results: There were no mortalities recorded in the cohort of patients analysed. At 30 days, pulmonary complications had occurred in 4 patients (9%). None of these were related to COVID infection.

Conclusion: With careful pre-operative screening of patients for COVID-19 and post-operative care in a COVID-19 clean ward, head and neck surgery can proceed safely during the epidemic. This data could help to minimise delay in treatment by allowing a greater number of elective head and neck cancer operations to proceed.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Head and neck surgery; Mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • COVID-19 / transmission
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Surgical Oncology / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines