Evaluating the feasibility of performing elective gastrointestinal cancer surgery during the COVID‐19 pandemic: An observational study with 60 days follow‐up results of a tertiary referral pandemic hospital

Sozutek, Alper; Seker, Ahmet; Kuvvetli, Adnan; Ozer, Nazmi; Genc, Ismail Caner

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has interfered with the treatment algorithm for patients with gastrointestinal (GIS) cancer, resulting in deferral of surgery. We presented the outcomes of our patients to evaluate whether surgery could be safely performed and followed‐up without delaying any stage of GIS cancer during the pandemic. METHODS: This was an observational study of 177 consecutive patients who underwent elective GIS cancer surgery between March 11 and November 1, 2020. They were assessed regarding their perioperative and 60 days follow‐up results for either surgical or COVID‐19 status. Morbidity was determined according to the Clavien‐Dindo classification (CDC). Continuous and categorical data were presented as median ± SD and number with percentage (%), respectively. RESULTS: The study included 44 gastric, 33 pancreatic, 40 colon, and 59 rectal cancer patients. All patients underwent surgery and received neo/adjuvant treatments without delay. The overall morbidity (CDC grade II–IV) and mortality rates were 10.1% and 3.9%, respectively. None of the patients or medical staff were infected with COVID‐19 during the study period. CONCLUSION: GIS cancer surgery can be safely performed even within a pandemic hospital if proper isolation measures can be achieved for both patients and health workers. Regardless of the tumor stage, surgery should not be deferred, depending on unstandardized algorithms.