Effects of the covid-19 pandemic on paediatric neurosurgery in turkey

Abstract

Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a catastrophe that has affected millions worldwide and changed the past world order in all respects. In particular, health institutions have been greatly affected as procedural changes were required in all medical specialties, including neurosurgery. In this article, we describe the paediatric neurosurgery patient management practice in our clinic and changes in this procudure in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: Patient movements from November 2020 to January 2021 and November 2021 to January 2022 in the paediatric neurosurgery department of our clinic were retrospectively evaluated. Further, we performed a literature review. Results: From November 2020 to January 2021 and November 2021 to January 2022, 1888 and 2895 patients were examined at the outpatient clinic and 65 and 156 surgeries were performed, respectively. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number outpatient visits decreased by 65.2% and that of surgeries decreased by 41.6%. Conclusion: During the pandemic, the first step in surgical procedures is to distinguish between emergency and elective cases. In this regard, shunt dysfunction, acute hydrocephalus, meningomyelocele and tumours that cause clinical impairment are prioritized in paediatric neurosurgery. Although the health care system is under great pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains committed to prioristisin patients.. In particular, paediatric patients are more more vulnerable in all respects and require greater care, especially in such trying times.

Keywords

• children
• health care system
• SARS-CoV-2

Türkiye'de covid-19 pandemisinin pediatrik nöroşirürji üzerine etkileri

Abstract

Amaç: Koronavirüs hastalığı 2019 (COVID-19) pandemisi, dünya çapında milyonlarca insanı etkileyen ve geçmiş dünya düzenini her bakımdan değiştiren bir felakettir. Özellikle, nöroşirürji de dahil olmak üzere tüm tıbbi uzmanlık alanlarında prosedür değişiklikleri gerektiğinden sağlık kurumları büyük ölçüde etkilenmiştir. Bu yazıda kliniğimizde pediatrik nöroşirürji hasta yönetimi uygulamasını ve Türkiye'de COVID-19 pandemisi sırasında meydana gelen değişiklikleri anlatacağız. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Kliniğimizin pediatrik nöroşirürji bölümünde Kasım 2020 - Ocak 2021 ve Kasım 2021 - Ocak 2022 tarihleri arasında hasta hareketleri retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Kasım 2020 - Ocak 2021 ve Kasım 2021 - Ocak 2022 tarihleri arasında poliklinikte 1888 ve 2895 hasta incelendi ve sırasıyla 65 ve 156 ameliyat yapıldı. COVID-19 pandemisinin zirvesinde, ayakta tedavi ziyaretlerinin sayısı% 65.2, ameliyatların sayısı% 41.6 azaldı. Sonuç: Pandemi sırasında cerrahi işlemlerde ilk adım acil ve elektif olgular arasında ayrım yapmaktır. Bu bağlamda pediatrik nöroşirürjide şant disfonksiyonu, akut hidrosefali, meningomiyelosel ve klinik bozukluğa neden olan tümörlere öncelik verilmektedir. Özellikle, pediatrik hastalar her bakımdan daha savunmasızdır ve özellikle bu tür zamanlarında daha fazla bakıma ihtiyaç duyarlar

Keywords

• Pediatri
• Sağlık sistemi
• SARS-CoV-2

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