key: cord-0851127-45ziyvwt
authors: Kara, Murat; Akduman, Burkay; Işık, Yahya Melih; Gürsoy, Koray; Koçer, Ugur
title: Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on Plastic Surgery: Taken Precautions, Distribution of Surgical Procedures and Changes in Admissions to Outpatient Clinic
date: 2020-11-08
journal: J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2020.10.073
sha: 1dffdd52f9612956c3dd5c1a88f96fc296f3b612
doc_id: 851127
cord_uid: 45ziyvwt

The COVID-19 outbreak is a global problem affecting the world in many respects. In the medical field, its impact on surgical branches as well as clinical branches is inevitable. From the plastic surgery perspective, the COVID-19 outbreak affects the number and distribution of surgeries, patient admissions and educational activities. Although these impacts are predictable, it is beneficial to document these data that would contribute to the proper response to a similar crisis in the future. From this standpoint, the present study aims to analyze the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic surgery practice in some aspects. Epidemiologic data of the two-time frames, routine period, and pandemic period of plastic surgery were reviewed retrospectively. The ratios of the listed data were compared between the two periods; admissions to the outpatient clinic, surgeries, consultations, anesthesia type, hospitalizations, and demographic data. While the number of outpatient clinic patients was 3511 in the routine period, it was 490 in the pandemic period. Compared to the routine period, the number of surgical interventions was decreased from 793 to 129 during the pandemic period. In particular, a statistically significant increase was observed in the rate of hand trauma and maxillofacial trauma cases during the pandemic period compared with the routine period (p < 0.001, and p = 0.032, respectively). Therefore, high rates of hand trauma and maxillofacial trauma should be taken into consideration when making arrangements such as personnel distribution, use of medical resources, and regulation of hospital infrastructure in extraordinary situations like COVID-19 pandemics.

Sources of support: None. Authors have no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise. There is no financial relationship with any institution, organization, or company.

Murat Kara, M.D. 

The COVID-19 outbreak is a global problem affecting the world in many respects. In the medical field, its impact on surgical branches as well as clinical branches is inevitable. From the plastic surgery perspective, the COVID-19 outbreak affects the number and distribution of surgeries, patient admissions and educational activities. Although these impacts are predictable, it is beneficial to document these data that would contribute to the proper response to a similar crisis in the future. From this standpoint, the present study aims to analyze the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic surgery practice in some aspects.

Epidemiologic data of the two-time frames, routine period, and pandemic period of plastic surgery were reviewed retrospectively. The ratios of the listed data were compared between the two periods; admissions to the outpatient clinic, surgeries, consultations, anesthesia type, hospitalizations, and demographic data.

While the number of outpatient clinic patients was 3511 in the routine period, it was 490 in the pandemic period. Compared to the routine period, the number of surgical interventions was decreased from 793 to 129 during the pandemic period. In particular, a statistically significant increase was observed in the rate of hand trauma and maxillofacial trauma cases during the pandemic period compared with the routine period (p < 0.001, and p = 0.032, respectively).

Therefore, high rates of hand trauma and maxillofacial trauma should be taken into consideration when making arrangements such as personnel distribution, use of medical resources, and regulation of hospital infrastructure in extraordinary situations like COVID-19 pandemics.

Keywords:

Covid-19; plastic surgery; surgery rate; surgery type; distribution of patients Dear Sir,

We live extraordinary times due to the COVID-19 outbreak, an emergency situation that spread over the world in a short time. This acute situation forced the national health services of countries to take strict measures in health care to provide effective care for COVID-19 infected patients as well as to maintain emergency and mandatory healthcare. 1 Although there are differences between countries, the main measure has been the postponement of health services that are not urgent or mandatory. 2 In addition to reducing viral transmission between patients and healthcare providers, it is aimed at medical resources and healthcare services to focus on the COVID-19 outbreak. Eventually, this has affected plastic surgery practice, and the distribution of the patient population admitted to plastic surgery clinics. 2 The present study aims to provide some information about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on a plastic surgery clinic and patient distribution during this period. Although some of these results and their impact on plastic surgery are predictable, to take adequate measures against the crisis circumstance, it is paramount to demonstrate the population to be served and the healthcare services to be given during an extraordinary situation related to the medical field.

The first case of COVID-19 was recorded on March 10, 2020, in Turkey. 3 hand trauma surgical procedures during PP was statistically significant compared to RP (p = 0.032 and p < 0.001, respectively) ( Table 1 ).

In parallel with the decrease of health care services in the plastic surgery clinic, the work schedule of plastic surgeons and nurses has been rearranged to provide reinforcement to different clinics that needed medical staff in COVID-19 patients care. Furthermore, to prevent viral transmission, the educational program of the residents was reorganized and mostly held as video conferences during the PP.

The present study examined the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic surgery in some respects. The significant increase in the proportion of traumatic hand surgery and MFT surgery among plastic surgery healthcare services is remarkable in the extraordinary situation that we live in nowadays. In conclusion, the importance of traumatic hand surgery and MFT surgeries should be taken into consideration while taking precautions such as personnel redistribution, regulation of clinical infrastructure, and use of medical resources in crisis management.

Authors have no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise. There is no financial relationship with any institution, organization, or company.

The present study does not involve human or animal subjects. 

A plastic surgery service response to COVID-19 in one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe

The COVID-19 Pandemic and its Impact on Plastic Surgery in Europe -An ESPRAS Survey

Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Health. Current Situtation in Turkey

Ministry of Health, Patient Rights and Medical Social Services Department. Postponement of Elective Surgical Interventions and Other Precautions to be Taken