Clinical Considerations in Neurosurgical Radiosurgery in the Time of COVID-19

Susan C Pannullo; Swathi Chidambaram; Andrew Brandmaier; Jonathan Knisely; John R Adler Jr

doi:10.7759/cureus.7671

Clinical Considerations in Neurosurgical Radiosurgery in the Time of COVID-19

Cureus. 2020 Apr 14;12(4):e7671. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7671.

Authors

Susan C Pannullo¹, Swathi Chidambaram², Andrew Brandmaier³, Jonathan Knisely³, John R Adler Jr^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Neurosurgery, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, USA.
² Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA.
³ Radiation Oncology, NewYork Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, USA.
⁴ Radiation Oncology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, USA.
⁵ Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all aspects of the healthcare ecosystem, including administration of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The clinical and logistical challenges created by the COVID-19 public health crisis are clear, but the solutions to these issues are less readily apparent. The goal of this work is to use our experience at a large, academic medical center as a lens for interpreting the many looming issues specific to radiosurgery and its role in the treatment of brain and spine disorders. While the full impact of the pandemic remains to be seen, the aim of this paper is to provide a structural framework to optimize delivery of neurosurgically oriented radiosurgery with proposed clinical workflow strategies. Innovative solutions to the current pandemic crisis affecting the healthcare ecosystem will be driven by increased interdisciplinary and global dialogue.

Keywords: covid-19; neurosurgery; radiosurgery.