Lung Cancer Surgery in the COVID-19 Outbreak;Can it be Done, What Should be Considered, What is the Risk?

Kermenli, Tayfun

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the results of ongoing pulmonary resection cases in our hospital during the COVID-19 outbreak and to make recommendations in line with our experience. Methods: The results of patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer in our hospital between March 2020 and Oc?tober 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Measures taken to prevent contamination in patients and the surgical team during the COVID-19 outbreak were evaluated. Results: A total of 21 patients, 20 male and 1 female, who underwent anatomical lung resection were included in the study. Seven of the patients had received neoadjuvant therapy, 18 patients had lobectomy, 1 patient had lower bilobectomy, and 2 patients had segmentectomy. During their postoperative follow-up and adjuvant treatments, CO?VID-19 outbreak was encountered in 2 patients. Conclusion: In thoracic surgery practice, after neoadjuvant therapy or directly after diagnosis, the risk of contamina?tion to patients can be minimized by taking necessary isolation measures while performing lung cancer surgery. In addition, we recommend that patients be evaluated with thorax CT and biochemical tests such as CRP, D-dimer, procal?citonin, ferritin and hemogram 1 day before the surgery.