The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Vascular Surgery:Healthcare Systems, Economic, and Clinical Implications

Gupta, Ryan; Mouawad, Nicolas J.; Yi, Jeniann A.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is responsible for over 500,000 deaths in the United States and nearly 3 million worldwide profoundly altering the landscape of healthcare delivery. Aggressive public health measures were instituted and hospital efforts became directed at COVID-19 related concerns. Consequently, routine surgical practice practically halted resulting in billions of dollars in hospital losses while pandemic costs escalated. Navigating an uncertain new landscape of scarce resource allocation, exposure risk, role redeployment and significant practice pattern changes has been challenging. Furthermore, the overall effect on the financial viability of the healthcare system and vascular surgical practices is yet to be elucidated. This review explores the economic and clinical implications of COVID-19 on the practice of vascular surgery in addition to the healthcare system as a whole.