The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric operations: a retrospective study of Chinese children

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on pediatric operations, and establish preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative protocols to improve the pediatric operations. Methods We here compare the number of patients who underwent surgery in Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children’s Hospital during the pandemic (January 23–March 11), after the pandemic (March 12–April 30), after our measures were put in place (May 1–May 21), and the equivalent period in 2019. Result During the COVID-19 pandemic, 62.68% fewer patients underwent surgery than during the homologous period of time 1 year earlier (P < 0.01). After the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of orchidopexy cases increased significantly from 175.14 to 504.57 per week (P < 0.01). The large number of patients that accrued in our hospital may have increased the risk of COVID-19 transmission. In response, hospitals and clinics have made protocols and reorganized healthcare facilities (e.g., performing nucleic acid tests (NAT), adding adequate personal protective equipment (PPE)) from May 1, 2020. After the measures were implemented, the number of operations performed remained stable and comparable to the pre-pandemic period. COVID-19 RNA detection was performed in 5104 cases and there were no new confirmed cases in our hospital. Conclusion This outbreak of COVID-19 has affected not only individuals with COVID-19 but also patients seeking surgical operations. Understanding the present situation helps clinicians provide a high level of treatment to all children.

The COVID‐19 pandemic first wave in Sweden: A national registry study of the effects on pediatric anesthesia and surgery

“…It is unclear how fast and to what degree pediatric surgical capacity has recovered in different countries, but our data show that regarding pediatric services, Sweden returned to near normal capacity within 3 months of the start of the first wave and maintained near‐normal levels of emergency care related to general surgery and orthopedics during the entire first wave of the pandemic. A possible explanation is that pediatric centers adapted rapidly to the pandemic, implementing strict algorithms for testing children scheduled for surgery, similar to other published data 25‐27 . Furthermore, compared with adult services, it is our impression that pediatric centers may have been relatively less taxed by allocation of staff to COVID‐19 wards and intensive care units.…”

“…A possible explanation is that pediatric centers adapted rapidly to the pandemic, implementing strict algorithms for testing children scheduled for surgery, similar to other published data. [25][26][27] Furthermore, compared with adult services, it is our impression that pediatric centers may have been relatively less taxed by allocation of staff to COVID-19 wards and intensive care units. Having said this, the SPOR data indicate that the second wave of the pandemic may have started to have effects on the healthcare system as early as a few months after returning to normal in June (Figure 1).…”

Türkiye’de doğum hızının en yüksek olduğu Şanlıurfa ilinde Covid-19 pandemisinin pediatrik üroloji operasyonları üzerindeki etkisinin araştırılması

“…In a retrospective study conducted in China, it was reported that during the COVID-19 epidemic, 62.86% less pediatric patients were admitted to the hospital and operated on compared to the year earlier [15]. In the same study, it was observed that the number of pediatric emergencies was also greatly affected by COVID-19, dropping from 90.14 to 67.86 per week (p<0.05).…”

“…The second may be that their parents delay treatment with concerns of coronavirus transmission. The third may be the cancellation of elective surgeries in hospitals during the pandemia to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and to make room for coronavirus patients [15].…”

Developments in pediatrics in 2020: choices in allergy, autoinflammatory disorders, critical care, endocrinology, genetics, infectious diseases, microbiota, neonatology, neurology, nutrition, ortopedics, respiratory tract illnesses and rheumatology

“…This was confirmed by other surveys [ 88 ]. Furthermore, a group from China [ 89 ] showed that 62.86% fewer patients underwent surgery during the beginning of the pandemic (January- March 2020) compared to the same period of the previous year. The decreased number of surgeries was ascribed to confinement, to parent’s requests of deferring elective surgery and to the postponement of elective surgical activity.…”