key: cord-0823739-uxvnq78s
authors: McNamara, Nicholas; Robinson, Benjamin; Bannon, Paul
title: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Provision of Adult Cardiac Surgery at a Dedicated COVID Hospital in Australia
date: 2021-07-03
journal: Heart Lung Circ
DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2021.06.446
sha: 746d54d3134af2c15b506126b22eae66d3fc92a7
doc_id: 823739
cord_uid: uxvnq78s

Background Internationally, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in fewer cardiac surgical procedures being performed and an increase in the proportion of non-elective cases. To date there has been no study examining the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of cardiac surgery in Australia. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the provision of cardiac surgery in a single, large major cardiac centre and dedicated COVID-19 hospital. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken utilising prospectively collected data. Methods Prospectively collected patient and operative data was examined to assess whether there was a reduction in the number of cases performed and whether there was a difference in patient demographics, surgical procedures or case urgency. Data was examined from the period of COVID-restrictions in 2020 and compared with data from the same time period in 2019. Results From 3 March 2020 to 30 June 2020, 136 adults underwent cardiac surgery at our institution, representing an overall reduction in operative caseload of 21%. The largest impact was noticed in May and April and coincided with statewide restrictions on elective surgery. Surgical acuity was unchanged with 58% of operations classified as non-elective procedures performed during the index admission. There was a small non-significant increase in the proportion of isolated coronary artery bypass surgery and aortic valve surgeries performed. Conclusion From March to June 2020 our local hospital response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a reduction in cardiac surgery service delivery. No change was seen in the urgency or type of surgeries performed.

Internationally, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in fewer cardiac 2 surgical procedures being performed and an increase in the proportion of non-elective 3 cases. To date there has been no study examining the impact of COVID-19 on the provision 4 of cardiac surgery in Australia. 5

Aim 6

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on 7 the provision of cardiac surgery in a single, large major cardiac centre and dedicated COVID-8 19 hospital. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken utilising prospectively collected 9 data. 10

Prospectively collected patient and operative data was examined to assess whether there 12 was a reduction in the number of cases performed and whether there was a difference in 13 patient demographics, surgical procedures or case urgency. Data was examined from the 14 period of COVID-restrictions in 2020 and compared with data from the same time period in 15 2019. 16

From 3 March 2020 to 30 June 2020, 136 adults underwent cardiac surgery at our 18 institution, representing an overall reduction in operative caseload of 21%. The largest 19 impact was noticed in May and April and coincided with statewide restrictions on elective 20 surgery. Surgical acuity was unchanged with 58% of operations classified as non-elective 21 procedures performed during the index admission. There was a small non-significant 22 increase in the proportion of isolated coronary artery bypass surgery and aortic valve 23 patients with COVID-19. In preparation for an expected rise in cases our institution reduced 47 all non-essential surgical services with immediate effect from 9 March 2020 and redeployed 48 surgical staff to COVID clinics. In addition, the perioperative unit was converted into an 49 intensive care unit, taking the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds from 54 to 73 and 50 increasing the capacity for ventilated patients to 57. On 25 March 2020, NSW Health 51 mandated the suspension of all non-urgent elective surgery to ensure public hospitals had 52 adequate capacity to respond to COVID-19. This mandate was subsequently lifted on 1 July 53 2020. To date, there has been no study examining the impact that COVID-19 has had on the 54 provision of cardiac surgery within Australia. The objective of this paper was to assess the 55 impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the provision of cardiac surgery at our 56 

World Health Organization

Cardiac Surgery Task Force on COVID-19 Pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak and its 198 impact on hospitals in Italy: the model of cardiac surgery

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on adult cardiac surgery procedures

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on behalf of the ANZSCTS Database. The Australian and New 210

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