Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume center
Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare systems worldwide, disrupting elective surgeries including those for cancer treatment. This study examines the effects of the pandemic on outcomes of pancreatic cancer surgeries at a specialized high-volume surgery center. Materials and m...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Cancer |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13512-6 |
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| author | Mohammed Al-Saeedi Ali Ramouz Elias Khajeh Sakher Shraim Alexander Werba Georgios Polychronidis Arianeb Mehrabi Martin Loos |
| author_facet | Mohammed Al-Saeedi Ali Ramouz Elias Khajeh Sakher Shraim Alexander Werba Georgios Polychronidis Arianeb Mehrabi Martin Loos |
| author_sort | Mohammed Al-Saeedi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare systems worldwide, disrupting elective surgeries including those for cancer treatment. This study examines the effects of the pandemic on outcomes of pancreatic cancer surgeries at a specialized high-volume surgery center. Materials and methods This study compared surgical volume and outcomes of pancreas resections between the pre-pandemic (January 2019 to February 2020), early pandemic (March 2020 to January 2021), and late pandemic (February 2021 to December 2021) periods. Perioperative and postoperative data were retrospectively analyzed from a prospectively maintained database together with surgical complications, mortality rates, and hospital stays. Results There was no significant reduction in the number of pancreas resections performed during the pandemic. The rate of primary resectable tumors was significantly lower during the late pandemic phase (66% vs. 65.9% vs. 56.5%; P = 0.024), and subsequently application of neoadjuvant therapies increased in the late pandemic phase (26% vs. 25.4% vs. 33.8%; P = 0.079). The number of chemotherapy cycles were also higher during the late pandemic phase (P = 0.009). Surgical complication rates were higher during the late pandemic phase (47.8% vs. 45.6% vs. 56%; P = 0.043), but mortality rates remained low (30-day mortality: 1.6% vs. 1% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.116; 90-day mortality: 2.5% vs. 1.6% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.296). Conclusion Our results indicate effective management of pancreatic cancer despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. These findings suggest that centralized, specialized surgical centers can maintain high-quality care of patients with pancreatic cancer during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of timely surgical interventions for cancer patients, even when the healthcare system is disrupted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-94a3ee5887db45b8a581467349d4f291 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2407 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Cancer |
| spelling | doaj-art-94a3ee5887db45b8a581467349d4f2912025-02-02T12:28:41ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-01-0125111210.1186/s12885-025-13512-6Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume centerMohammed Al-Saeedi0Ali Ramouz1Elias Khajeh2Sakher Shraim3Alexander Werba4Georgios Polychronidis5Arianeb Mehrabi6Martin Loos7Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of HeidelbergDepartment of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of HeidelbergDepartment of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of HeidelbergDepartment of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of HeidelbergDepartment of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of HeidelbergDepartment of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of HeidelbergDepartment of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of HeidelbergDepartment of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University of HeidelbergAbstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare systems worldwide, disrupting elective surgeries including those for cancer treatment. This study examines the effects of the pandemic on outcomes of pancreatic cancer surgeries at a specialized high-volume surgery center. Materials and methods This study compared surgical volume and outcomes of pancreas resections between the pre-pandemic (January 2019 to February 2020), early pandemic (March 2020 to January 2021), and late pandemic (February 2021 to December 2021) periods. Perioperative and postoperative data were retrospectively analyzed from a prospectively maintained database together with surgical complications, mortality rates, and hospital stays. Results There was no significant reduction in the number of pancreas resections performed during the pandemic. The rate of primary resectable tumors was significantly lower during the late pandemic phase (66% vs. 65.9% vs. 56.5%; P = 0.024), and subsequently application of neoadjuvant therapies increased in the late pandemic phase (26% vs. 25.4% vs. 33.8%; P = 0.079). The number of chemotherapy cycles were also higher during the late pandemic phase (P = 0.009). Surgical complication rates were higher during the late pandemic phase (47.8% vs. 45.6% vs. 56%; P = 0.043), but mortality rates remained low (30-day mortality: 1.6% vs. 1% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.116; 90-day mortality: 2.5% vs. 1.6% vs. 3.7%, P = 0.296). Conclusion Our results indicate effective management of pancreatic cancer despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. These findings suggest that centralized, specialized surgical centers can maintain high-quality care of patients with pancreatic cancer during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of timely surgical interventions for cancer patients, even when the healthcare system is disrupted.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13512-6Pancreas cancerPancreatoduodenectomyCOVID-19MortalityStandardization |
| spellingShingle | Mohammed Al-Saeedi Ali Ramouz Elias Khajeh Sakher Shraim Alexander Werba Georgios Polychronidis Arianeb Mehrabi Martin Loos Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume center BMC Cancer Pancreas cancer Pancreatoduodenectomy COVID-19 Mortality Standardization |
| title | Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume center |
| title_full | Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume center |
| title_fullStr | Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume center |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume center |
| title_short | Challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in a high-volume center |
| title_sort | challenges and adaptations in pancreatic cancer surgery during the covid 19 pandemic in a high volume center |
| topic | Pancreas cancer Pancreatoduodenectomy COVID-19 Mortality Standardization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-13512-6 |
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