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Speichinger F, Berg AK, Stoyanova A, Lauscher JC, Kamphues C, Beyer K, Seifarth C, Slavova N, Schineis C. Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Rectal Cancer. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3568. [PMID: 38930097 PMCID: PMC11204882 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions have resulted in delayed diagnoses across various tumor entities, including rectal cancer. Our hypothesis was based on the expectation of a reduced number of primary operations due to higher tumor stages compared to the control group. Methods: In a single-center retrospective study conducted from 1 March 2018 to 1 March 2022, we analyzed 120 patients with an initial diagnosis of rectal cancer. Among them, 65 patients were part of the control group (pre-COVID-19), while 55 patients were included in the study group (during the COVID-19 pandemic). We compared tumor stages, treatment methods, and complications, presenting data as absolute numbers or mean values. Results: Fewer primary tumor resections during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.010), as well as a significantly lower overall number of tumor resections (p = 0.025) were seen compared to the control group. Twenty percent of patients in the COVID-19 group received their diagnosis during lockdown periods. These patients presented significantly higher tumor stages (T4b: 27.3% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.025) compared to the control group prior to the pandemic. In addition, more patients with angiolymphatic invasion (ALI) were identified in the COVID-19 group following neoadjuvant treatment compared to the control group (p = 0.027). No differences were noted between the groups regarding complications, stoma placement, or conversion rates. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during lockdown, appears to have contributed to delayed diagnoses, resulting in higher tumor stages and a decreased number of surgeries. The quality of rectal cancer treatment can be maintained under pandemic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Speichinger
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany (C.S.)
| | - Ann-Kathrin Berg
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany (C.S.)
| | - Ani Stoyanova
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany (C.S.)
| | - Johannes Christian Lauscher
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany (C.S.)
| | - Carsten Kamphues
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Park-Klinik Weißensee Berlin, 13086 Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Beyer
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany (C.S.)
| | - Claudia Seifarth
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany (C.S.)
| | - Nadia Slavova
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany (C.S.)
| | - Christian Schineis
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany (C.S.)
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Ihnát P, Martínek L, Tulinský L, Kala Z, Grolich T, Gurlich R, Šturma J, Klos D, Špička P, Neoral Č, Černý V. Resilience in Rectal Cancer Treatment: Lessons from the COVID-19 Era in Czech Republic. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2024; 20:373-379. [PMID: 38912517 PMCID: PMC11192038 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s455332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The management of patients with COVID-19 infection has placed great pressure on the healthcare systems around the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment outcomes of patients with rectal cancer by comparing them to those of patients with the same diagnosis in the pre-pandemic period. Methods Retrospective data analysis of patients undergoing multimodal treatment for rectal cancer at the four university hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) and the 2-year pre-pandemic period (2018-2019). Results A total of 693 patients (319 in the pre-pandemic period and 374 in the pandemic period) with rectal cancer were included in the study. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients in both study periods were comparable, as was the spectrum of surgical procedures. Palliative surgery was more common in the pandemic period (18% vs 13%, p=0.084). The proportion of patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic (p=0.025). There were no statistically significant differences between the study periods in the incidence/severity of post-operative complications, 30-day mortality and length of hospital stay. The number of positive resection margins was similar (5% vs 5%). Based on these results, COVID-19 had no effect on the postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer. Neoadjuvant treatment was more common in the pre-pandemic period (50% vs 45%). Long-course RT was predominantly offered in the pre-pandemic period, short-course RT during the pandemic. Significantly shorter "diagnosis-surgery" intervals were observed during the pandemic (23 days vs 33 days, p=0.0002). The "surgery-adjuvant therapy" interval was similar in both analysed study periods (p=0.219). Conclusion Our study showed, that despite concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, multimodal treatment of rectal cancer was associated with unchanged postoperative morbidity rates, increased frequency of short-course neoadjuvant RT administration and shorter "diagnosis-surgery" intervals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Ihnát
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Surgical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Lubomír Martínek
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Surgical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Lubomír Tulinský
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Surgical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Kala
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Grolich
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Gurlich
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Šturma
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Dušan Klos
- 1st Department of Surgery, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Špička
- 1st Department of Surgery, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Čestmír Neoral
- Department of Surgical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
- 1st Department of Surgery, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Černý
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Charles University in Prague, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
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Fujita M, Yamaguchi K, Nagashima K, Suzuki K, Kasai T, Hashimoto H, Onouchi Y, Sato D, Fujisawa T, Hata A. Changes in colorectal cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: Interrupted time-series analysis using the National Database of Japan. Cancer Epidemiol 2023; 85:102391. [PMID: 37207375 PMCID: PMC10191809 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2023.102391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced us to accept changes in our usual diagnostic procedures and treatments for colorectal cancer. This study aimed to determine the impact of the pandemic on colorectal cancer treatment in Japan. METHODS The number of colorectal surgeries, stoma constructions, stent placements or long tube insertions, and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapies were determined each month using sampling datasets from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. The observation periods before and during the pandemic were January 2015 to January 2020 and April 2020 to January 2021, respectively. An interrupted time-series analysis was used to estimate the changes in the number of procedures during the pandemic. RESULTS The number of endoscopic surgeries for colon cancer significantly decreased in April and July 2020 and for rectal cancer in April 2020. Additionally, the number of laparoscopic and open surgeries for colon cancer significantly decreased in July 2020 and October 2020, respectively. The number of stoma constructions and stent placements or long tube insertions did not increase during the observation period. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer significantly increased in April 2020 but levels returned shortly thereafter. These results suggest that the recommendations to overcome the pandemic proposed by expert committees, including the replacement of laparoscopic surgery with open surgery, stoma construction to avoid anastomotic leak, and replacement of surgery on the ileus with stent placement, were not widely implemented in Japan. However, as an exception, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer was performed as an alternative treatment to delay surgery in small quantities. CONCLUSION A declining number of surgeries raises concerns about cancer stage progression; however, we found no evidence to suggest cancer progression from the trajectory of the number of stoma constructions and stent placements. In Japan, even during the pandemic, conventional treatments were performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misuzu Fujita
- Department of Health Research, Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 32-14 Shin-Minato, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0002, Japan; Department of Public Health, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Kazuya Yamaguchi
- Department of Health Research, Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 32-14 Shin-Minato, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0002, Japan
| | - Kengo Nagashima
- Biostatistics Unit, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Keio University Hospital, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kiminori Suzuki
- Department of Health Research, Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 32-14 Shin-Minato, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0002, Japan
| | - Tokuzo Kasai
- Department of Health Research, Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 32-14 Shin-Minato, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0002, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Hashimoto
- Department of Health Research, Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 32-14 Shin-Minato, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0002, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Onouchi
- Department of Public Health, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sato
- Center for Next Generation of Community Health, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-15 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
| | - Takehiko Fujisawa
- Department of Health Research, Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 32-14 Shin-Minato, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0002, Japan
| | - Akira Hata
- Department of Health Research, Chiba Foundation for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, 32-14 Shin-Minato, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0002, Japan
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Parray AM, Chaudhari VA, Bhandare MS, Madhabananda K, Muduly DK, Sudhindran S, Mathews J, Pradeep R, Thammineedi SR, Amal K, Chaudhary D, Jitender R, Pandey D, Amar P, Penumadu P, Kalayarasan R, Elamurugan TP, Kantharia C, Pujari S, Ramesh H, Somashekhar SP, Fernandes A, Sexena R, Singh RK, Lattoo MR, Shah OJ, Jeswanth S, Roy M, Thambudorai R, Shrikhande SV. Impact of Covid-19 on gastrointestinal cancer surgery: A National Survey. Langenbecks Arch Surg 2022; 407:3735-3745. [PMID: 36098808 PMCID: PMC9469820 DOI: 10.1007/s00423-022-02675-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To understand the actual impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and frame the future strategies, we conducted a pan India survey to study the impact on the surgical management of gastrointestinal cancers. Methods A national multicentre survey in the form of a questionnaire from 16 tertiary care gastrointestinal oncology centres across India was conducted from January 2019 to June 2021 that was divided into a 15-month pre-Covid era and a similar period of active Covid pandemic era. Results There was significant disruption of services; 13 (81%) centres worked as dedicated Covid care centres and 43% reported suspension of essential care for more than 6 months. In active Covid phase, there was a 14.5% decrease in registrations and proportion of decrease was highest in the centres from South zone (22%). There was decrease in resections across all organ systems; maximum reduction was noted in hepatic resections (33%) followed by oesophageal and gastric resections (31 and 25% respectively). There was minimal decrease in colorectal resections (5%). A total of 584 (7.1%) patients had either active Covid-19 infection or developed infection in the post-operative period or had recovered from Covid-19 infection. Only 3 (18%) centres reported higher morbidity, while the rest of the centres reported similar or lower morbidity rates when compared to pre-Covid phase; however, 6 (37%) centres reported slightly higher mortality in the active Covid phase. Conclusion
Covid-19 pandemic resulted in significant reduction in new cancer registrations and elective gastrointestinal cancer surgeries. Perioperative morbidity remained similar despite 7.1% perioperative Covid 19 exposure. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00423-022-02675-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir M Parray
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India
| | | | | | - K Madhabananda
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, India
| | - Dilip K Muduly
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, India
| | - S Sudhindran
- Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Kochi, India
| | - Johns Mathews
- Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Institute, Kochi, India
| | - R Pradeep
- Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - K Amal
- Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Gauhati, India
| | | | - R Jitender
- Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (TMC), Sangrur, India
| | - Durgatosh Pandey
- Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre & Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (TMC), Varanasi, India
| | - P Amar
- Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre & Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (TMC), Varanasi, India
| | - Prasanth Penumadu
- Jawahar Lal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
| | - Raja Kalayarasan
- Jawahar Lal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
| | - T P Elamurugan
- Jawahar Lal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
| | | | | | - H Ramesh
- Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre, Kochi, India
| | | | | | - Rajan Sexena
- Sanjay Gandhi PGI of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | | | - Mohd R Lattoo
- Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, India
| | - Omar J Shah
- Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, India
| | | | | | | | - Shailesh V Shrikhande
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. .,Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary, Surgical Oncology, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400012, India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Freund
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston
| | - Steven D Wexner
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston
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Freund MR, Kent I, Horesh N, Smith T, Zamis M, Meyer R, Yellinek S, Wexner SD. The effect of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on sphincter preserving surgery for rectal cancer: A single referral center experience. Surgery 2022; 171:1209-1214. [PMID: 35337683 PMCID: PMC8849841 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background COVID-19 has significantly impacted healthcare worldwide. Lack of screening and limited access to healthcare has delayed diagnosis and treatment of various malignancies. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on sphincter-preserving surgery in patients with rectal cancer. Methods This was a single-center retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery for newly diagnosed rectal cancer. Patients operated on during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020–February 2021) comprised the study group (COVID-19 era), while patients operated on prior to the pandemic (March 2016–February 2020) served as the control group (pre–COVID-19). Results This study included 234 patients diagnosed with rectal cancer; 180 (77%) patients in the pre–COVID-19 group and 54 patients (23%) in the COVID-19–era group. There were no differences between the groups in terms of mean patient age, sex, or body mass index. The COVID-19–era group presented with a significantly higher rate of locally advanced disease (stage T3/T4 79% vs 58%; P = .02) and metastatic disease (9% vs 3%; P = .05). The COVID-19–era group also had a much higher percentage of patients treated with total neoadjuvant therapy (52% vs 15%; P = .001) and showed a significantly lower rate of sphincter-preserving surgery (73% vs 86%; P = .028). Time from diagnosis to surgery in this group was also significantly longer (median 272 vs 146 days; P < .0001). Conclusion Patients undergoing surgery for rectal cancer during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic presented later and at a more advanced stage. They were more likely to be treated with total neoadjuvant therapy and were less likely candidates for sphincter-preserving surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Freund
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. https://twitter.com/mikifreund
| | - Ilan Kent
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. https://twitter.com/ilan_kent
| | - Nir Horesh
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. https://twitter.com/nirhoresh
| | - Timothy Smith
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL
| | - Marcella Zamis
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL
| | - Ryan Meyer
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL
| | - Shlomo Yellinek
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. https://twitter.com/SYellinek
| | - Steven D Wexner
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL.
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