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How should colorectal surgeons practice during the COVID ‐19 epidemic? A retrospective single‐centre analysis based on real‐world data from China
Author(s) -
He Changzheng,
Li Yuxuan,
Huang Xiaohui,
Hu Shidong,
Yan Yang,
Liu Yichen,
Zhao Pengyue,
Lin Haiguan,
Xu Xiaolei,
Wang Yufeng,
Teng Da,
Du Xiaohui
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/ans.16057
Subject(s) - medicine , colorectal cancer , covid-19 , colorectal surgery , retrospective cohort study , disease , general surgery , colonoscopy , surgery , emergency medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty) , cancer , abdominal surgery
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 is currently of global concern. Cancer patients are advised to stay at home in case of potential infection, which may cause delays of routine diagnosis and necessary treatment. How colorectal surgeons should manage this during the epidemic remains a big challenge. The objective of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of routine colorectal surgery during coronavirus disease 2019 and to offer some Chinese recommendations to colorectal surgeons throughout the world. Methods A total of 166 patients receiving colorectal surgery from 20 December 2019 to 20 March 2020 at Department of General Surgery in Chinese General Hospital of People's Liberation Army were enrolled, and further divided into two groups based on before or after admission date of 20 January 2020. Clinicopathologic data such as hospital stay and economic data such as total costs were collected and analysed retrospectively. Results Longer hospital stay, higher proportion of non‐local patients and more hospitalization cost were found in the post‐20 January group (special‐time group) ( P < 0.001; P < 0.05; P < 0.05, respectively). Apart from this, no difference existed with regard to baseline demographical data such as age, sex and height, as well as clinicopathological data such as previous history, surgery time, operation extent and TNM staging. Conclusions This real‐world study indicated that performing colorectal surgery during coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic might be safe and feasible based on comprehensive screening and investigation. We have summarized several recommendations here, hoping to help surgeons from related departments across the world.