Thoracic surgery and COVID-19: changes and managements during the pandemic

Runchen Wang; Ran Zhong; Hengrui Liang; Tianci Zhang; Xinkai Zhou; Zhenyu Huo; Yi Feng; Qixia Wang; Jianfu Li; Shan Xiong; Feng Li; Wenhua Liang; Jianxing He

doi:10.21037/jtd-20-2883

Thoracic surgery and COVID-19: changes and managements during the pandemic

J Thorac Dis. 2021 Mar;13(3):1507-1516. doi: 10.21037/jtd-20-2883.

Authors

Runchen Wang^{1

2}, Ran Zhong¹, Hengrui Liang¹, Tianci Zhang³, Xinkai Zhou⁴, Zhenyu Huo^{1

2}, Yi Feng^{1

2}, Qixia Wang^{1

2}, Jianfu Li¹, Shan Xiong¹, Feng Li¹, Wenhua Liang¹, Jianxing He^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, Guangzhou, China.
² Nanshan School, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
³ College of Cybersecurity, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
⁴ School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.

Abstract

Background: Several articles have been published about the reorganization of surgical activity during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic but little is known about the operative volume, distribution of cases, or capacity of The Department of Thoracic Surgery to deliver surgical services in the time of COVID-19.

Methods: A retrospective operative logbook review was completed in department of thoracic in a designated COVID-19 hospital. We reviewed and analyzed the operative logbook and discussed our countermeasures during the outbreak. A prediction model was established to discuss the time consuming about delayed surgeries during the pandemic.

Results: One thousand two hundred and seventy-five operation records were collected. The thoracic surgeries of this year has decreased (43.4%) during the Wuhan lockdown. From Jan 23^rd to Apr 8^th in 2020, there were 461 surgeries performed in The Department of Thoracic in our hospital with 0 cases of nosocomial COVID-19 infection. Prediction model showed that it will take 6 weeks to solve the backlog if department can reach the 85% of maximum of operations per week.

Conclusions: An understanding of operative case volume and distribution is essential in facilitating targeted interventions to strengthen surgical capacity in the time of COVID-19. A proper guideline is imperative to ensure access to safe, timely surgical care. By developing a scientific and effective management of hospital, it is possible to ensure optimal surgical safety during this crisis. Regular updates and a further study include multicenter is required.

Clinical trial registry number: ChiCTR2000034346.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); surgery distribution; surgical volume; thoracic surgery.