The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Number and Pattern of Major Thoracic Surgical Cases in Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar

Abstract

1.1. Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic affected the activities of every department, but most significantly the health department. It is essential to understand and quantify any such effects on the healthcare for better future planning. 1.2. Objective: We used de-identified retrospective data to 1) quantify the prevalence of common surgeries in the thoracic surgery department, 2) investigate the impact of COVID 19 on the patients’ characteristics, and number and proportion of the thoracic surgeries in our department, and 3) search for the possible causes for any such effects. 1.3. Materials and Methods: We used a HIPPA complaint retrospective data of the patients who had surgery in the Thoracic Surgery division of Hayatabad Medical Complex, between December 2018 to July 2021 to work out the effects of the pandemic on the amount and kinds of surgeries in the thoracic department during the pandemic. 1.4. Results: Our data consisted of a total of 242 cases. During the pandemic, the total number of thoracic surgeries increased by 53%. The top five most common thoracic surgeries during the pandemic identified by prevalence were decortication (34.2%), hydatid cystectomy (10.8%), emergency thoracotomy (7%), esophagectomy (5.7%), and feeding jejunostomy (5.7%). During the pandemic, thoracic surgeries were generally more prevalent among males, and among relatively younger patients (age ≤10 years). We saw a significant drop in the proportion of surgeries for oncologic indications. However, no significant change was seen in the baseline characteristics, complications and mortality of the cases. 1.5. Conclusion: Although the pandemic had no significant effect on the baseline characteristics and the safety and efficacy of our procedures, the unplanned diversion of patients from other hospitals resulted in a sudden increased burden on our unit. We recommend a close communication between the different healthcare facilities, under a strict monitoring body, to prevent over burdening of the departments and smooth delivery of care to patients.