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The vast majority of patients with oesophago-gastric cancer attending the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the last few months have not experienced any deviation from the normal pre-COVID-19 care pathway, according to data published in Diseases of the Esophagus.
This study evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on cancer, in particular surgical intervention, in patients with oesophago-gastric cancer at the high-volume tertiary center.
All patients undergoing potential management for oesophago-gastric cancer from March 12 to May 22 had their outcomes reviewed.
Overall, 191 patients were discussed by the multidisciplinary team, a 12% fall from the same period in 2019. New referrals fell from 120 to 83 in the same period (P = 0.0322).
The majority of patients (80%) had no deviation from the pre-COVID-19 pathway.
Sixteen patients had reduced staging investigations, four had potential changes to their treatment only, and 10 had a deviation from both investigation and potential treatment.
Only one patient had palliation rather than potentially curative treatment.
Overall, 19 patients underwent surgical resection. Eight patients (41%) developed complications, with two (11%) graded Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3.
Two patients developed COVID-19 within a month of surgery, one spending four weeks in critical care due to respiratory complications; both recovered.
Twelve patients underwent endoscopic resections with no complications.
The authors say that while care must be taken not to compromise cancer treatment and outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study shows that excellent results can be achieved through meticulous logistical planning, good communication, and maintaining high-level clinical care.
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Wahed S, Chmelo J, Navidi M, Hayes N, Phillips AW, Immanuel A. Delivering esophago-gastric cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom: a surgical perspective. Dis Esophagus. 2020 Aug 20 [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1093/dote/doaa091. PMID: 32816020
This article originally appeared on Univadis, part of the Medscape Professional Network.