The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Esophageal and Gastric Cancer Surgery in Germany: A Four-Year Retrospective Single-Center Study of 287 Patients

Author:

Ibach Marius1ORCID,Winter Axel1,Seika Philippa1,Ritschl Paul1ORCID,Berndt Nadja1,Dobrindt Eva1,Raakow Jonas1ORCID,Pratschke Johann1,Denecke Christian1,Maurer Max Magnus12

Affiliation:

1. Chirurgische Klinik, Campus Charité Mitte/Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany

2. Berlin Institute of Health at Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy, BIH Charité Clinician Scientist Program, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Abstract

Background: Disruptions to surgical care for cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic remain an ongoing debate. This study assesses the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on perioperative outcomes in a continuous series of surgically treated esophageal and gastric carcinoma patients at a large university hospital in Europe over 48 months. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study at a tertiary referral center. All patients who underwent oncologic esophageal or gastric resection between March 2018 and February 2022 were included in the analysis. The sample was split into a 24 months COVID-19 and an equivalent pre-COVID-19 control period. Outcome variables included caseload, in-hospital mortality, morbidity, treatment course, and disease stage at presentation. Results: Surgeons performed 287 operations, with around two-thirds (62%) of the cohort undergoing esophagectomy and one-third (38%) gastrectomy. The in-hospital mortality was 1% for the COVID-19 and the control periods. Patients did not present at a later disease stage nor did they wait longer for treatment. There was no decrease in caseload, and patients did not suffer from more perioperative complications during COVID-19. Conclusions: Esophageal and gastric carcinoma patients received safe and timely surgical care during the pandemic. Future pandemic protocols may streamline oncologic care towards tertiary referral centers.

Publisher

MDPI AG

Reference23 articles.

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2. (2023, June 02). Robert Koch Institute: Ergänzung zum Nationalen Pandemieplan—COVID-19—Neuartige Coronaviruserkrankung. Available online: https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Ergaenzung_Pandemieplan_Covid.pdf?__blob=publicationFile.

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