[The Impact of Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Care for Elective Patients (C-elective Study) - Results of a Multicenter Survey].

Willms, Arnulf; Lock, Johan Friso; Simbeck, Alexandra; Thasler, Wolfgang; Rost, Wilm; Hauer, Thorsten; Schaaf, Sebastian; Germer, Christoph Thomas; Schwab, Robert; Oldhafer, Karl Jürgen

BACKGROUND Due to the COVID-19-related lockdown regulations, surgical clinics had to cut down elective procedures. The impact of the cancellation and postponing surgery on patients is unclear. METHODS All patients from six hospitals with canceled surgery during the first lockdown (03/16-04/24/2020) were asked to answer a questionnaire. RESULTS In total, 225 patients took part. In 88 (39.1%) patients, the disease-related complaints changed, mainly towards an increase in severity (82.6%). That was especially true for hernia patients (44.4%). In 4% of the cases, there was a complication requiring surgery in the time interval between the original date of the operation and the interview. For about a third, the cancelation of scheduled surgery caused major administrative difficulties. Most of the patients (76.3%) understood the measures taken, though 40.4% of them considered that their indication was very urgent. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The overall complication rate was low, and patients agreed to the measures taken; however, especially hernia patients showed increasing symptoms and some acute incarcerations. It seems reasonable to monitor symptomatic patients closely, in order to prioritise them when surgical capacity is restricted.