Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgical Oncology in Europe: Results of a European Survey

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The first COVID-19 pandemic wave hit most of the health-care systems worldwide. The present survey aimed to provide a European overview on the COVID-19 impact on surgical oncology. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This anonymous online survey was accessible from April 24 to May 11, 2020, for surgeons (<i>n</i> = 298) who were contacted by the surgical society European Digestive Surgery. The survey was completed by 88 surgeons (29.2%) from 69 different departments. The responses per department were evaluated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the departments, 88.4% (<i>n</i> = 61/69) reported a lower volume of patients in the outpatient clinic; 69.1% (<i>n</i> = 47/68) and 75.0% (<i>n</i> = 51/68) reported a reduction in hospital bed and the operating room capacity, respectively. As a result, the participants reported an average reduction of 29.3% for all types of oncological resections surveyed in this questionnaire. The strongest reduction was observed for oncological resections of hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) cancers. Of the interviewed surgeons, 68.7% (<i>n</i> = 46/67) agreed that survival outcomes will be negatively impacted by the pandemic. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The first COVID-19 pandemic wave had a significant impact on surgical oncology in Europe. The surveyed surgeons expect an increase in the number of unresectable cancers as well as poorer survival outcomes due to cancellations of follow-ups and postponements of surgeries.