Impact of the COVID-19-pandemic on patients with gynecological malignancies undergoing surgery: A Dutch population-based study using data from the 'Dutch Gynecological Oncology Audit'

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19-pandemic caused drastic healthcare changes worldwide. To date, the impact of these changes on gynecological cancer healthcare is relatively unknown. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19-pandemic on surgical gynecological-oncology healthcare.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study included all surgical procedures with curative intent for gynecological malignancies, registered in the Dutch Gynecological Oncology Audit, in 2018-2020. Four periods were identified based on COVID-19 hospital admission rates: 'Pre-COVID-19', 'First wave', 'Interim period', and 'Second wave'. Surgical volume, perioperative care processes, and postoperative outcomes from 2020 were compared with 2018-2019.

RESULTS

A total of 11,488 surgical procedures were analyzed. For cervical cancer, surgical volume decreased by 17.2% in 2020 compared to 2018-2019 (mean 2018-2019: n = 542.5, 2020: n = 449). At nadir (interim period), only 51% of the expected cervical cancer procedures were performed. For ovarian, vulvar, and endometrial cancer, volumes remained stable. Patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer more frequently received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 2020 compared to 2018-2019 (67.7% (n = 432) vs. 61.8% (n = 783), p = 0.011). Median time to first treatment was significantly shorter in all four malignancies in 2020. For vulvar and endometrial cancer, the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in 2020. No significant differences in complicated course and 30-day-mortality were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19-pandemic impacted surgical gynecological-oncology healthcare: in 2020, surgical volume for cervical cancer dropped considerably, waiting time was significantly shorter for all malignancies, while neoadjuvant chemotherapy administration for advanced-stage ovarian cancer increased. The safety of perioperative healthcare was not negatively impacted by the pandemic, as complications and 30-day-mortality remained stable.

[Two women with a chronic process in the lower abdomen]

Two women, aged 50 and 45 years, had a chronic process in the lower abdomen. The first presented with cough and progressive dyspnoea, and her chest X-ray raised the suspicion of a metastasis of a malignancy. The second patient had abdominal pain, frequent urination and irregular vaginal bleeding. She was initially treated for a urinary-tract infection. Diagnostic investigations showed pelvic actinomycosis in both patients. Both had used an intrauterine device (IUD). In the first patient a pelvic abscess was drained. Antimicrobial treatment consisted of penicillin i.v. for several weeks and orally for 6 months. Actinomycosis is a slowly progressive bacterial infection that characteristically expands through anatomic structures and can lead to fistulae and abscesses. The disease is caused by Actinomyces species. Diagnosis is often delayed because other diseases (e.g. malignancy) are considered more probable. Actinomycosis is associated with prolonged use of an IUD, but it is rare and removal of the IUD is not indicated unless symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease are present. The mainstay of actinomycosis therapy is administration of an effective antibiotic (e.g. penicillin). Except for drainage of abscesses, surgical intervention is rarely necessary. When antimicrobial therapy is continued for 6-9 months, prognosis is favourable, as was the case in both patients.