Melo GM, Gonçalves AJ, Walder F, Ferraz C, Neves MC, Abrahão M, Cervantes O. Analysis of the status of treatment of benign thyroid diseases - a public health problem aggravated in the COVID-19 pandemic era.
Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2021;
88:982-989. [PMID:
34799264 PMCID:
PMC8536560 DOI:
10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.08.008]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Goiters and benign nodules detected in the thyroid are growing lesions and the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted on their surgical treatment. The appropriate selection of patients to treatment will improve the overall health status. This article review will focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment of benign conditions of the thyroid gland and their implications.
METHODS
This review pointed out the status of the health system in developing country and the problems to treat benign surgical diseases of thyroid. Aspects of epidemiology, incidence, clinical presentation and surgical treatment of goiters, economic and health status impact were cited.
RESULTS
All surgical treatment of goiter and other benign conditions were postponed, forced to redirect, and reschedule all benign surgeries, situation aggravated by poor public management and closure of hospital beds. These conditions have caused deterioration in patients' physical (decompensated thyroid disease) and mental health status, increasing work disabilities and burdening society by increasing the social and health cost. The overall situation could be catastrophic in emergent countries where this increased disease-related social expenditure on surgical treatment may increase the risk of national impoverishment as increase the treatment cost. Brazilian Society Head and Neck Surgery related some recommendations and new suggestions were made to safely treat these high potential hazard surgical conditions.
CONCLUSIONS
Surgeries for goiter and benign thyroid conditions can be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic, following strict safety protocols for the patient and the medical team, reducing the negative economic and on patient health impact.
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