RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Breast Cancer Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Clinical Study of the Breast Surgery Clinic at Ospedale Policlinico San Martino – Genoa, Italy
JF In Vivo
JO In Vivo
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 1667
OP 1673
DO 10.21873/invivo.11959
VO 34
IS 3 suppl
A1 FREGATTI, PIERO
A1 GIPPONI, MARCO
A1 GIACCHINO, MARIA
A1 SPARAVIGNA, MARCO
A1 MURELLI, FEDERICA
A1 TONI, MARIA LUISA
A1 CALABRÒ, MARIA TERESA
A1 ORSINO, LINA
A1 FRIEDMAN, DANIELE
YR 2020
UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/34/3_suppl/1667.abstract
AB Background: COVID-19 pandemic required a marked re-allocation of healthcare resources, including at Breast Units. A patient-tailored program was developed to assess its efficacy regarding prevention of COVID-19 infection among patients with breast cancer undergoing surgery and healthcare workers (HCWs). Patients and Methods: From March 9th to April 9th 2020, 91 patients were selected for elective surgery by means of: i) Pre-hospital screening aimed at avoiding hospitalization of symptomatic or suspicious COVID-19 patients, and ii) prioritisation of surgical procedure according to specific disease features. Results: Eighty-five patients (93.4%) were fit for surgery, while five patients (5.5%) were temporarily excluded through ‘telephone triage’; another two patients were excluded at in-hospital triage. A total of 71 out of 85 patients (83.5%) were diagnosed with invasive cancer, most of whom were undergoing breast-conserving surgery (61 out of 85 patients, 71.8%). The mean in-hospital stay was 2.2 days (SD=0.7 days). After hospital discharge, no patient needed re-admission due to post-operative complications; moreover, no COVID-19 infection among patients or HCWs was detected. Conclusion: Safe breast cancer surgery was accomplished for both patients and HCWs by means of a careful preoperative selection of patients and in-hospital preventative measures. This screening program can be transferred to high-volume Breast Units and it may be useful in implementing European Community recommendations for prevention of COVID-19 infection.