Early institutional head and neck oncologic and microvascular surgery practice patterns across the United States during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID19) pandemic

Head Neck. 2020 Jun;42(6):1168-1172. doi: 10.1002/hed.26189. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused rapid changes in head and neck cancer (HNC) care. "Real-time" methods to monitor practice patterns can optimize provider safety and patient care.

Methods: Head and neck surgeons from 14 institutions in the United States regularly contributed their practice patterns to a shared spreadsheet. Data from 27 March 2020 to 5 April 2020 was analyzed.

Results: All institutions had significantly restricted HNC clinic evaluations. Two institutions stopped free-flap surgery with the remaining scheduling surgery by committee review. Factors contributing to reduced clinical volume included lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) (35%) and lack of rapid COVID-19 testing (86%).

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a reduction in HNC care. Rapid COVID-19 testing and correlation with infectious potential remain paramount to resuming the care of patients with head and neck cancer. Cloud-based platforms to share practice patterns will be essential as the pandemic evolves.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; head and neck cancer treatment; head and neck surgery; microvascular reconstruction; practice patterns.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Communicable Disease Control / organization & administration
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Oncology / organization & administration
  • Microsurgery / methods*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Patient Safety / statistics & numerical data
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / organization & administration*
  • Program Evaluation
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Societies, Medical
  • Surgical Oncology / organization & administration*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States