Effect of COVID-19 on Thoracic Oncology Surgery in Spain: A Spanish Thoracic Surgery Society (SECT) Survey.

Néstor Martínez-Hernández,Ángel Cilleruelo Ramos,Sebastián Sevilla López,José Recuero Díaz,José Jarabo Sarceda,Andrés Obeso Carillo,Usue Caballero Silva,Sergi Call,José Campo-Cañaveral De La Cruz,Felipe Couñago,Florentino Hernando Trancho,Alberto Cabañero Sánchez

doi:10.3390/cancers13122897

Abstract

Simple SummaryAfter the first wave of COVID-19, the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgeons (SECT) surveyed its members to assess the impact of the pandemic on thoracic oncology surgery in one of the counties most affected by the virus. In May 2020, all SECT members were invited to complete a 40-item, multiple choice questionnaire by e-mail. The response rate was 19.0%. Surgical activity decreased by 95.7%, with 41.5% of centers performing surgery only in oncologic cases and 11.7% only in emergencies. More than half (56%) of multidisciplinary tumour board meetings (56%) were cancelled or conducted online. Standard protocols for early-stage disease were modified in 62.9% of centers. The results of this survey show that the COVID-19 pandemic severely limited thoracic oncology surgery activity. Here we describe and discuss the impact of the pandemic on thoracic surgery in Spain.After the first wave of COVID-19, the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgeons (SECT) surveyed its members to assess the impact of the pandemic on thoracic oncology surgery in Spain. In May 2020, all SECT members were invited to complete an online, 40-item, multiple choice questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed by the SECT Scientific Committee and sent via email. The overall response rate was 19.2%. The respondents answered at least 91.5% of the items, with only one exception (a question about residents). Most respondents (89.3%) worked in public hospitals. The reported impact of the pandemic on routine clinical activity was considered extreme or severe by 75.5% of respondents (25.5% and 50%, respectively). Multidisciplinary tumour boards were held either with fewer members attending or through electronic platforms (44.6% and 35.9%, respectively). Surgical activity decreased by 95.7%, with 41.5% of centers performing surgery only on oncological patients and 11.7% only in emergencies. Nearly 60% of respondents reported modifying standard protocols for early-stage cancer and in the preoperative workup. Most centers (≈80%) reported using full personal protective equipment when operating on COVID-19 positive patients. The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected thoracic oncology surgery in Spain. The lack of common protocols led to a variable care delivery to lung cancer patients.

Highlights

Lung cancer is the most lethal type of cancer, accounting for 1.76 million deaths annually [1]
If you are a resident, how has the pandemic has affected your training?. The findings of this survey of thoracic surgeons reveals the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical treatment of patients with lung cancer in Spain
Our data show that the pandemic had a major impact on clinical activity in thoracic surgery departments in Spain, one of the countries most affected by the first wave of COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

Lung cancer is the most lethal type of cancer, accounting for 1.76 million deaths annually [1]. 25–30% of patients are diagnosed with early-stage disease [2]. In many of these patients, lung resection is the treatment of choice [3]. Lung cancer is often considered an epidemic, the emergence of a new coronavirus variant in December 2019—SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease known as COVID-19—quickly eclipsed lung cancer and most other health conditions. COVID-19 has directly or indirectly caused over 3 million deaths worldwide [6], forcing governments around the world to implement strict measures restricting the free movement of citizens and bringing the economy to a halt [7,8,9]

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