Providing cancer surgery in the COVID-19 crisis

Screening with HRCT chest and PCR testing for COVID-19 in asymptomatic patients undergoing a surgical or diagnostic procedure

“…Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), measures have been taken to protect healthcare staff from infection, to prevent infection of patients admitted to the hospital and to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) according to need 1 . To assure the proper protection without overuse of limited supply of PPE, screening of patients for COVID-19 before surgical or diagnostic procedure needs to be implemented 2,3 . Besides surgery on a COVID-19 patient posing a risk to the treatment team, it can also be detrimental to the post-operative course of COVID-19 for the patient 3 .…”

Maintaining quality of care in colorectal cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Many surgeons have advocated the continuation of cancer services during the COVID‐19 pandemic to prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment 1 . Yet, there are concerns regarding the impact of strained resources and manpower fatigue on the quality of postoperative cancer care.…”

Development and Performance of a Clinical Decision Support Tool to Inform Resource Utilization for Elective Operations

“…This included estimating an ever-fluctuating number of available beds, securing sufficient personal protective equipment and ventilators, minimizing staff shortages, and establishing protocols to mitigate against nosocomial infections. National specialty societies examined the lessons from their counterparts abroad 1 , 2 , 3 and, along with federal and state agencies, issued guidelines for the evaluation of the urgency of procedures. 4 , 5 , 6…”