Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Management and Surgical Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: This study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at a tertiary care hospital in Romania. The objective was to compare surgical volumes, tumor characteristics, and patient outco...

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Main Authors: Aida Puia, Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier, Vasile Gaborean, Raluca Bodea, Florin Graur, Florin Zaharie, Nadim Al-Hajjar, Ion Cosmin Puia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/12/1924
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author Aida Puia
Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier
Vasile Gaborean
Raluca Bodea
Florin Graur
Florin Zaharie
Nadim Al-Hajjar
Ion Cosmin Puia
author_facet Aida Puia
Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier
Vasile Gaborean
Raluca Bodea
Florin Graur
Florin Zaharie
Nadim Al-Hajjar
Ion Cosmin Puia
author_sort Aida Puia
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: This study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at a tertiary care hospital in Romania. The objective was to compare surgical volumes, tumor characteristics, and patient outcomes across three periods: pre-COVID, pandemic, and post-COVID. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A retrospective analysis of 622 PDAC patients who underwent surgery between February 2018 and February 2024 was conducted. The key variables analyzed included tumor size, type of surgery (curative vs. palliative), use of neoadjuvant therapy, postoperative complications, and ICU monitoring, among others. <i>Results</i>: During the pandemic, there was a 25% decrease in surgical interventions compared the number performed during the pre-pandemic period, with a significant increase in the number of patients undergoing surgical intervention following neoadjuvant treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.009) in the post-pandemic period. Post-pandemic, surgical volumes increased by 10%, and tumor sizes were smaller (<i>p</i> = 0.029). Postoperative outcomes, such as complications, remained stable across the periods, but intensive care unit monitoring increased significantly during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Hospital stay durations were significantly shorter during and after the pandemic (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Conclusions</i>: The COVID-19 pandemic led to delays in PDAC surgeries, but post-pandemic improvements in surgical volumes and early diagnosis are evident; however, further optimization of screening and treatment protocols is essential for improving patient outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-b1973f2206cb4bec925ed5c43b96d1722024-12-27T14:38:32ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442024-11-016012192410.3390/medicina60121924Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Management and Surgical Treatment During the COVID-19 PandemicAida Puia0Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier1Vasile Gaborean2Raluca Bodea3Florin Graur4Florin Zaharie5Nadim Al-Hajjar6Ion Cosmin Puia7Department of Community Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFirst Discipline of Surgery, Department X-Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2., 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Surgical Semiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timişoara, RomaniaRegional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaRegional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaRegional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaRegional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaRegional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 400394 Cluj-Napoca, Romania<i>Background and Objectives</i>: This study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at a tertiary care hospital in Romania. The objective was to compare surgical volumes, tumor characteristics, and patient outcomes across three periods: pre-COVID, pandemic, and post-COVID. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A retrospective analysis of 622 PDAC patients who underwent surgery between February 2018 and February 2024 was conducted. The key variables analyzed included tumor size, type of surgery (curative vs. palliative), use of neoadjuvant therapy, postoperative complications, and ICU monitoring, among others. <i>Results</i>: During the pandemic, there was a 25% decrease in surgical interventions compared the number performed during the pre-pandemic period, with a significant increase in the number of patients undergoing surgical intervention following neoadjuvant treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.009) in the post-pandemic period. Post-pandemic, surgical volumes increased by 10%, and tumor sizes were smaller (<i>p</i> = 0.029). Postoperative outcomes, such as complications, remained stable across the periods, but intensive care unit monitoring increased significantly during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Hospital stay durations were significantly shorter during and after the pandemic (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Conclusions</i>: The COVID-19 pandemic led to delays in PDAC surgeries, but post-pandemic improvements in surgical volumes and early diagnosis are evident; however, further optimization of screening and treatment protocols is essential for improving patient outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/12/1924pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaCOVID-19surgerypostoperative outcomeshospitalizationpostoperative complications
spellingShingle Aida Puia
Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier
Vasile Gaborean
Raluca Bodea
Florin Graur
Florin Zaharie
Nadim Al-Hajjar
Ion Cosmin Puia
Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Management and Surgical Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Medicina
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
COVID-19
surgery
postoperative outcomes
hospitalization
postoperative complications
title Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Management and Surgical Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Management and Surgical Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_fullStr Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Management and Surgical Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Management and Surgical Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_short Changes in Pancreatic Cancer Management and Surgical Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
title_sort changes in pancreatic cancer management and surgical treatment during the covid 19 pandemic
topic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
COVID-19
surgery
postoperative outcomes
hospitalization
postoperative complications
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/12/1924
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