The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the short and mid-term urological emergencies and the emergency department

Year 2021, Volume: 38 Issue: 4, 466 - 470, 09.10.2021

Hülya Yılmaz Başer , Aykut Başer

Abstract

Dynamic changes are observed in the delivery of health care services due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Its effect in the short term is a dramatic decrease in service, however, its effect in the medium and long term is unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department and emergency urological surgery in the short and medium term during the 8-month period, and the reasons for possible changes. Emergency department operations, urology operations and emergency surgical procedures between April and November were compared as the 2020 pandemic period and the 2019 non-pandemic period. The relevant information was obtained from the hospital management information system. Descriptive analysis and statistical methods comparing the two periods were used. In the early stages of the pandemic, significant decreases were observed in both urology procedures and emergency department operations. In the medium period, while emergency department operations and urology consultations returned to the non-pandemic periods, there was no such a change in in emergency urological surgeries. In the medium term effects of the pandemic, emergency department operations returned to the non-pandemic periods due to reasons such as patients' abuse of emergency departments in line with their requests for rapid diagnosis and treatment. In accordance with the changing nature of the pandemic, it is necessary to make different scheduling for emergency department operations and emergency surgeries.

Keywords

COVID-19, Pandemic, Urological emergencies, Emergency department

Supporting Institution

None

Project Number

None

Thanks

None

References

• Amparore D, Campi R, Checcucci E, Sessa F, Pecoraro A, Minervini A, et al. Forecasting the Future of Urology Practice: A Comprehensive Review of the Recommendations by International and European Associations on Priority Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Eur Urol Focus. 2020;5;6(5):1032-1048. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.euf.2020.05.007.
• Boserup B, McKenney M, Elkbuli A. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department visits and patient safety in the United States. Am J Emerg Med. 2020;38(9):1732-1736. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2020.06.007.
• Bozkurt O, Sen V, Irer B, Sagnak L, Onal B, Tanidir Y, et al. Nation-wide analysis of the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on daily urology practice in Turkey. Int J Clin Pract. 2020 Sep 30:e13735. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.13735.
• Cicerello E, Mangano MS, Cova G, Zordani A. Urological emergency activities during COVID-19 pandemic: Our experience. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2020 Dec 17;92(4). http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2020.4.282.
• Ficarra V, Novara G, Abrate A, Bartoletti R, Crestani A, De Nunzio C, et al. Urology practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2020 Jun;72(3):369-375. http://dx.doi.org/10.23736/S0393-2249.20.03846-1.
• Giamello JD, Abram S, Bernardi S, Lauria G. The emergency department in the COVID-19 era. Who are we missing? Eur J Emerg Med. 2020;27(4):305-306. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0000000000000718.
• Grasso A.A.C. · Massa G. · Castelnuovo M. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Urological Emergencies: A Multicenter Experience on over 3,000 Patients. Urol Int 2021;105:17–20. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511757.
• Hartnett KP, Kite-Powell A, DeVies J, Coletta MA, Boehmer TK, Adjemian J, et al. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Visits - United States, January 1, 2019-May 30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Jun 12;69(23):699-704. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585 /mmwr.mm6923e1.
• Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020;395:497-506.
• Lu H, Stratton CW, Tang YW. Outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, China: The mystery and the miracle. J Med >Virol 2020;92:401-2.
• Motterle G, Morlacco A, lafrate M, Bianco M, Federa G, Xhafka O, et al. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on urological emergencies: a single-center experience. World J Urol. 2020;23:1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00345-020-03264-2.
• Proietti S, Gaboardi F, Giusti G. Endourological stone management in the era of the COVID-19. Eur Urol. 2020 Aug;78(2):131-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2020.03.042.
• Ribal MJ, Cornford P, Briganti A, Knoll T, Gravas S, Babjuk M, et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines Office Rapid Reaction Group: An Organisation-wide Collaborative Effort to Adapt the European Association of Urology Guidelines Recommendations to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Era. Eur Urol. 2020;78(1):21-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2020.04.056.
• Simonato A, Giannarini G, Abrate A, Bartoletti R, Crestani A, De Nunzio C, et al. Clinical pathways for urology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2020 Jun;72(3):376-383. http://dx.doi.org/10.23736/S0393-2249.20.03861-8.
• Stensland KD, Morgan TM, Moinzadeh A, Lee CT, Briganti A, Catto JWF, et al. Considerations in the Triage of Urologic Surgeries During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Eur Urol. 2020;77(6):663-666. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2020.03.027.
• Teoh JY, Ong WLK, Gonzalez-Padilla D, Castellani D, Dubin JM, Esperto F, et al. A Global Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on Urological Services. ur Urol. 2020 Aug;78(2):265-275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2020.05.025.
• Uribarri J. Chronic kidney disease and kidney stones. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2020;29:237–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MNH.0000000000000582.
• World Health Organization. WHO director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 march 2020. World Health Organization. [Internet]. 2020 [updated 2020 March 11; cited January 10, 2021]. Available from: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020.
• World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report [Internet]; 2020. [cited December 21, 2020]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports.