Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global health crisis, and surgeons are at increased occupational risk of contracting COVID-19. The impact of the disease on prevalent general surgical practice is uncertain and continues to evolve. The study aimed to study the impact of COVID-19 on general surgical practice in India and the future implications of the pandemic. A survey questionnaire was designed and electronically circulated 1 month after India entered a national lockdown during COVID-19 pandemic, amongst members of Indian Association of Gastro-intestinal Endo-surgeons (IAGES), a surgical association with nearly eight thousand members from across the country. Survey questions pertaining to pre-COVID era surgical practices, impact on current practice, and financial implications were asked. Responses were collected and statistically analyzed. One hundred fifty-three surgeons completed the survey, of which only 9.2% were women. Majority (41%) were into practice for more than 20 years; 36.6% were into private practice at multiple hospitals (free-lancers). Amongst the respondents, 41.8% had mainly laparoscopic practice with mean outpatient consultation of 26 patients/day and elective surgeries of 43 cases/month prior to lockdown. Post-lockdown, daily outpatient consults reduced to 4 patients per day, and 77% had not performed a single elective procedure. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) chemoprophylaxis was reported by 52% surgeons. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by 52% for all cases, while 71.5% stated there are insufficient guidelines for future surgical practice in terms of safety. A drop of more than 75% of their monthly income was experienced by 52% surgeons, while 22% faced 50–75% reduction. One third (33%) of respondents own a hospital and are expecting a monthly financial liability of 2.25 million rupees (nearly 30,000 US dollars). COVID-19 has led to a drastic reduction in outpatient and elective surgical practices. There is a definite need for guidelines regarding safety for future surgical practices and solutions to overcome the financial liabilities in the near future.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 30, 2020 [1]
In the first week on March, an unexpectedly high number of cases were detected worldwide and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [2].The Indian government announced a countrywide lockdown for 3 weeks starting at midnight on March 24 to slow the spread of COVID-19 as the number of people testing positive in the country reached 563 [3]
Our survey showed that practice of majority of surgeons in India has been drastically affected by the COVID19 pandemic
Summary
The novel coronavirus was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 30, 2020 [1]. In the first week on March, an unexpectedly high number of cases were detected worldwide and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [2].The Indian government announced a countrywide lockdown for 3 weeks starting at midnight on March 24 to slow the spread of COVID-19 as the number of people testing positive in the country reached 563 [3]. This lockdown was further extended till May 3, 2020. Majority of hospital resources were directed towards availing masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), minimizing staff movements and suspension of all elective work.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
