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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Head and Neck Cancer Practice - Tertiary Health Care Center Experience
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Original Article
VOLUME: 54 ISSUE: 3
P: 318-327
2021

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Head and Neck Cancer Practice - Tertiary Health Care Center Experience

Acta Haematol Oncol Turc 2021;54(3):318-327
DOI: 10.5505/aot.2021.46762
Arzubetül Duran 1
Ayca Ant 1
Tuncay Tunçcan 1
Caner Kılıç 1
Elif Akyol Şen 1
Burcu Vural 2
Samet Özlügedik 1
1. R.T.M.H. Dr. A. Y. Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ankara
2. R.T.M.H. Simav Doç. Dr. İsmail Karakuyu State Hospital, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kütahya
3.
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 2021-01-14T13:48:58
Accepted Date: 2021-12-01T07:07:29
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed practice patterns of head and neck oncology services, as well as other service areas of health care. This study aims to describe the impact of COVID-19 on the services of the division of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery at an academic tertiary referral hospital specialized in oncology. This is a single-center descriptive study conducted within the otorhinolaryngology department of a tertiary health care institution, which mainly provided service to oncological cases during the pandemic.

METHODS

Data of cases over 18 years old on the numbers of outpatient visits, hospitalizations, otorhinolaryngological surgeries, and indications were obtained from March 1 to May 15 for 2019 and 2020 from hospital information management system. Data on preoperative test results of asymptomatic patients for COVID-19, going through for head and neck oncological surgeries were obtained from the same system.

RESULTS

There is a decrease in the total number of outpatient visits in 2020 compared to 2019. (16814 vs. 7108, 57.7%). The numbers of hospitalizations and surgeries related to head and neck malignancies were increased despite the decrease in the total number of hospitalizations (278 vs. 129, p <0.001) and in the total number of surgeries (231 vs. 111, p < 0.001). One of the 88 preoperative COVID-19 tests of asymptomatic patients was positive. No member of the staff got infected.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Although there is a decrease in the number of patients in the 2020 period, the increase in the qualitative characteristics of the head and neck oncological procedures performed causes an increase in the difficulties / risks that health professionals face even though they do not work for pandemic services.