The influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on esophagogastric cancer services:: An international survey of esophagogastric surgeons

Sivesh K Kamarajah; Sheraz R Markar; Pritam Singh; Ewan A Griffiths; Oesophagogastric Anastomosis Audit Group; David Watson; Tim Bright; Bas Wijnhoven; Grard  Nieuwenhuijzen; Jan  Stoot; Jan W.  Haveman; Joos  Heisterkamp; Marc J.  van Det; Mark Ivan  van Berge Henegouwen; Misha  Luyer; Peter  van Duijvendijk; S.  van Esser; Stefan  Bouwense; Suzanne S.  Gisbertz; Jeremy  Rossaak; Mark  Smith; Nicholas  Szecket; Jeremy  Rossaak; Adeyeye  Ademola; Funmilola  Wuraola; Adil  Tareen; Andrés G.  Jabiles; Omel  Zevallos; Piotr  Major; Wojciech  Polkowski; Carina  Bernardo; Jorge  Santos; Jose P.  Freire; Paulo  Costa; In  Cho; Achim  Florin; Dragos  Predescu; Ionut Negoi; Petre  Hoara; Kiselev N.  Mikhailovich; Saleem  Ahmed; Carlos L.  Gonzalez; Enriquet  Martinez; Ismael Diezdelval; Jorge  de Tomas; Julio  Galindo; Lourdes S.  Alvarex; Manuel Pera; Marcos B.  Esteban; Miguel T.  Trincado; Mingol  Navarro; Rafael M. R.  Núñez; Rajesh  Gianchandani; Salvador  Morales-Conde; Vanessa C.  Martín; Yannko G.  Domínguez; Seif  Mahadi; Magnus  Nilsson; Stefan  Gutknecht; Stefan  Moenig; Styliani  Mantziari; Yves  Borbely; Hsu Po  Kuei; Ali  Guner; Arda Isik; Elif  Mangancolak; Karateke  Faruk; Nezih  Akkapulu; Orçun  Yalav; Tuna  Bilecik; Andrew Chang; Christopher  Morse; Daniela  Molena; Douglas E.  Wood; James D. Luketich; Matthew  Steliga; Mio  Kitano; Philip  Carrott; Stephen C.  Yang; Virginia R.  Litle; Wilbur  Bowne; Zhamak  Khorgami

doi:10.1093/dote/doaa054

The influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on esophagogastric cancer services: An international survey of esophagogastric surgeons

Sivesh K Kamarajah, Sheraz R Markar, Pritam Singh, Ewan A Griffiths, Oesophagogastric Anastomosis Audit Group, David Watson, Tim Bright, Bas Wijnhoven, Grard Nieuwenhuijzen, Jan Stoot, Jan W. Haveman, Joos Heisterkamp, Marc J. van Det, Mark Ivan van Berge Henegouwen, Misha Luyer, Peter van Duijvendijk, S. van Esser, Stefan Bouwense, Suzanne S. Gisbertz, Jeremy RossaakMark Smith, Nicholas Szecket, Jeremy Rossaak, Adeyeye Ademola, Funmilola Wuraola , Adil Tareen, Andrés G. Jabiles, Omel Zevallos, Piotr Major, Wojciech Polkowski, Carina Bernardo, Jorge Santos, Jose P. Freire, Paulo Costa, In Cho, Achim Florin, Dragos Predescu, Ionut Negoi, Petre Hoara, Kiselev N. Mikhailovich, Saleem Ahmed, Carlos L. Gonzalez, Enriquet Martinez, Ismael Diezdelval, Jorge de Tomas, Julio Galindo, Lourdes S. Alvarex, Manuel Pera, Marcos B. Esteban, Miguel T. Trincado, Mingol Navarro, Rafael M. R. Núñez, Rajesh Gianchandani, Salvador Morales-Conde, Vanessa C. Martín, Yannko G. Domínguez, Seif Mahadi, Magnus Nilsson, Stefan Gutknecht, Stefan Moenig, Styliani Mantziari, Yves Borbely, Hsu Po Kuei, Ali Guner, Arda Isik, Elif Mangancolak, Karateke Faruk, Nezih Akkapulu, Orçun Yalav, Tuna Bilecik, Andrew Chang, Christopher Morse, Daniela Molena, Douglas E. Wood, James D. Luketich, Matthew Steliga, Mio Kitano, Philip Carrott, Stephen C. Yang, Virginia R. Litle, Wilbur Bowne, Zhamak Khorgami

College of Medicine and Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Several guidelines to guide clinical practice among esophagogastric surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic were produced. However, none provide reflection of current service provision. This international survey aimed to clarify the changes observed in esophageal and gastric cancer management and surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey covering key areas for esophagogastric cancer services, including staging investigations and oncological and surgical therapy before and during (at two separate time-points-24th March 2020 and 18th April 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic were developed. Results: A total of 234 respondents from 225 centers and 49 countries spanning six continents completed the first round of the online survey, of which 79% (n = 184) completed round 2. There was variation in the availability of staging investigations ranging from 26.5% for endoscopic ultrasound to 62.8% for spiral computed tomography scan. Definitive chemoradiotherapy was offered in 14.8% (adenocarcinoma) and 47.0% (squamous cell carcinoma) of respondents and significantly increased by almost three-fold and two-fold, respectively, in both round 1 and 2. There were uncertainty and heterogeneity surrounding prioritization of patients undergoing cancer resections. Of the surgeons symptomatic with COVID-19, only 40.2% (33/82) had routine access to COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction testing for staff. Of those who had testing available (n = 33), only 12.1% (4/33) had tested positive. Conclusions: These data highlight management challenges and several practice variations in caring for patients with esophagogastric cancers. Therefore, there is a need for clear consistent guidelines to be in place in the event of a further pandemic to ensure a standardized level of oncological care for patients with esophagogastric cancers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Journal	Diseases of The Esophagus
Volume	33
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/dote/doaa054
Publication status	Published - 1 Jul 2020

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
Esophagogastric Cancer Services
Esophagogastric Surgeons
COVID-19
Esophageal surgery
Pandemic
Gastric cancer
Esophageal cancer

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1093/dote/doaa054Licence: In Copyright

Cite this

Kamarajah, S. K., Markar, S. R., Singh, P., Griffiths, E. A., Oesophagogastric Anastomosis Audit Group, Watson, D., Bright, T., Wijnhoven, B., Nieuwenhuijzen, G., Stoot, J., Haveman, J. W., Heisterkamp, J., van Det, M. J., van Berge Henegouwen, M. I., Luyer, M., van Duijvendijk, P., van Esser, S., Bouwense, S., Gisbertz, S. S., ... Khorgami, Z. (2020). The influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on esophagogastric cancer services: An international survey of esophagogastric surgeons. Diseases of The Esophagus, 33(7), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/dote/doaa054

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abstract = "Background: Several guidelines to guide clinical practice among esophagogastric surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic were produced. However, none provide reflection of current service provision. This international survey aimed to clarify the changes observed in esophageal and gastric cancer management and surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey covering key areas for esophagogastric cancer services, including staging investigations and oncological and surgical therapy before and during (at two separate time-points-24th March 2020 and 18th April 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic were developed. Results: A total of 234 respondents from 225 centers and 49 countries spanning six continents completed the first round of the online survey, of which 79% (n = 184) completed round 2. There was variation in the availability of staging investigations ranging from 26.5% for endoscopic ultrasound to 62.8% for spiral computed tomography scan. Definitive chemoradiotherapy was offered in 14.8% (adenocarcinoma) and 47.0% (squamous cell carcinoma) of respondents and significantly increased by almost three-fold and two-fold, respectively, in both round 1 and 2. There were uncertainty and heterogeneity surrounding prioritization of patients undergoing cancer resections. Of the surgeons symptomatic with COVID-19, only 40.2% (33/82) had routine access to COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction testing for staff. Of those who had testing available (n = 33), only 12.1% (4/33) had tested positive. Conclusions: These data highlight management challenges and several practice variations in caring for patients with esophagogastric cancers. Therefore, there is a need for clear consistent guidelines to be in place in the event of a further pandemic to ensure a standardized level of oncological care for patients with esophagogastric cancers.",

keywords = "SARS-CoV-2, Esophagogastric Cancer Services, Esophagogastric Surgeons, COVID-19, Esophageal surgery, Pandemic, Gastric cancer, Esophageal cancer",

author = "Kamarajah, {Sivesh K} and Markar, {Sheraz R} and Pritam Singh and Griffiths, {Ewan A} and {Oesophagogastric Anastomosis Audit Group} and Alejandro Nieponice and Quesada, {Bernabe M. Q} and Daneri, {Gustavo A.} and Daniel Foley and David Mitchell and David Watson and Kohn, {Geoffrey P} and Kontoku Shimokawa and Michael Hii and Michael Talbot and Neil Merrett and Paul Cashin and Townend, {Phillip J.} and Robert Finch and Rod Jacobs and Sivakumar Gananadha and Tim Bright and Vanessa Hill and Dietmar {\"O}fner-Velano and Elke Vandaele and Lieven Depypere and deMaat, {Michiel deMaat} and Yannick Mandeville and Lourenco, {Laercio G.} and Moreira, {Luis F.} and Lourenco, {Laercio G.} and Wendel Furtado and Alegbeleye, {Bamidele J.} and Biniam Kidane and Brian Johnston and French, {Daniel G.} and Lorenzo Ferri and Natalie Coburn and Rosero, {German A.} and Jota Vargas and Raul Guevarac and Hana Faltova and Alan Ainsworth and Kjaer, {Daniel W.} and Mohabel Barbary and Mosab Shetiwy and Reda Ez and Aristotelis Kechagias and Cecile Brigand and Denis Collet and Guillaume Piessen and Mircea Chirica and Olivier Glehen and Pierre Cattan and Simon Msika and Xavier Djourno and Alexander Novotny and Beat Mueller and Daniel Reim and Jonas Herzberg and Martin Reichert and Matthias Biebl and Matthias Reeh and Peter Grimminger and Alex Boddy and Andrew Baker and Andrew Cowie and Asif Chaudhry and Bilal Alkhaffaf and Christopher Peters and Daniel Titcomb and Bowrey, {David J.} and Edward Cheong and Griffiths, {Ewen A.} and Fergus Noble and {van Workum}, Frans and Macaulay, {Graeme D} and Jamie Kelly and Khalid Dawas and Martin Wadley and Matthew Forshaw and Maziar Navidi and Nila Tewari and Olga Tucker and Paul Leeder and Paul Wilkerson and Periyathambi Jambulingam and Pritam Singh and Ravinder Vohra and Ray Kennedy and Rohith Gopalarao and Shameen Jaunoo and Simon Dwerryhouse and Stephen McNally and Tanveer Adil and Underwood, {Timothy J.} and Vamshi Jagadesham and Waleed Al-Khyatt and YKS Viswanath and Aikaterini Mastoraki and Alexandros Charalabopoulos and Dimitrios Manatakis and Dimitrios Schizas and Dimitris Theodorou and Efstratia Baili and Gregory Christodoulidis and Orestis Ioannidis and Theodoros Liakakos and Zacharoulis Dimitris and Claudia Wong and Andras Papp and Dezs{\H o} T{\'o}th and Karthik Maruthachalam and Hamdani, {Nissar H.} and Habibollah Mahmoodzadeh and Kennedy, {Andrew J.} and Chris Collins and Claire Donohoe and John Reynolds and Claudio Fiorillo and Daniele Bernardi and Fausto Rosa and Gianni Mura and Sica, {Giuseppe S} and Jacob Weindelmayer and Lucia Moletta and Luigi Angrisani and Luigi Bonavina and Marcello Migliore and Marco Catarci and Marino, {Marco V.} and Michele Valmasoni and Riccardo Rosati and Santi Stefano and Stefano Rause and {Fumagalli Romario}, Uberto and Gianluca Baiocchi and Masahiko Murakami and Mitsuru Sasako and Shinji Mine and Aiman Obed and Ashraf Haddad and Morris Muhinga and Ali Hallal and Pierre Sfeir and Rodrigue Chemaly and Muhammed Elhadi and Augustinas Bausys and George Decker and Azagra, {Juan S.} and Kelvin Voon and Hans Mahendran and {Shukri Bin Jahit}, Mohammad and {Wei Jin}, Wong and Nik Kosai and Choong, {Lau Peng} and Alberto Takahashi and Sosa Duranee and Bas Wijnhoven and Bastiaan Klarenbeek and Camiel Rosman and EB Wassenaa and {van Nieuwenhoven}, EJ and Grard Nieuwenhuijzen and Jan Stoot and Haveman, {Jan W.} and Joos Heisterkamp and {van Det}, {Marc J.} and {van Berge Henegouwen}, {Mark Ivan} and Misha Luyer and {van Duijvendijk}, Peter and {van Esser}, S. and Stefan Bouwense and Gisbertz, {Suzanne S.} and Jeremy Rossaak and Mark Smith and Nicholas Szecket and Jeremy Rossaak and Adeyeye Ademola and Funmilola Wuraola and Adil Tareen and Jabiles, {Andr{\'e}s G.} and Omel Zevallos and Piotr Major and Wojciech Polkowski and Carina Bernardo and Jorge Santos and Freire, {Jose P.} and Paulo Costa and In Cho and Achim Florin and Dragos Predescu and Ionut Negoi and Petre Hoara and Mikhailovich, {Kiselev N.} and Saleem Ahmed and Gonzalez, {Carlos L.} and Enriquet Martinez and Ismael Diezdelval and {de Tomas}, Jorge and Julio Galindo and Alvarex, {Lourdes S.} and Manuel Pera and Esteban, {Marcos B.} and Trincado, {Miguel T.} and Mingol Navarro and N{\'u}{\~n}ez, {Rafael M. R.} and Rajesh Gianchandani and Salvador Morales-Conde and Mart{\'i}n, {Vanessa C.} and Dom{\'i}nguez, {Yannko G.} and Seif Mahadi and Magnus Nilsson and Stefan Gutknecht and Stefan Moenig and Styliani Mantziari and Yves Borbely and Kuei, {Hsu Po} and Ali Guner and Arda Isik and Elif Mangancolak and Karateke Faruk and Nezih Akkapulu and Or{\c c}un Yalav and Tuna Bilecik and Andrew Chang and Christopher Morse and Daniela Molena and Wood, {Douglas E.} and Luketich, {James D.} and Matthew Steliga and Mio Kitano and Philip Carrott and Yang, {Stephen C.} and Litle, {Virginia R.} and Wilbur Bowne and Zhamak Khorgami",

year = "2020",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/dote/doaa054",

language = "English",

volume = "33",

pages = "1--12",

journal = "Diseases of The Esophagus",

issn = "1120-8694",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "7",

}

Kamarajah, SK, Markar, SR, Singh, P, Griffiths, EA, Oesophagogastric Anastomosis Audit Group, Watson, D , Bright, T, Wijnhoven, B, Nieuwenhuijzen, G, Stoot, J, Haveman, JW, Heisterkamp, J, van Det, MJ, van Berge Henegouwen, MI, Luyer, M, van Duijvendijk, P, van Esser, S, Bouwense, S, Gisbertz, SS, Rossaak, J, Smith, M, Szecket, N, Rossaak, J, Ademola, A, Wuraola , F, Tareen, A, Jabiles, AG, Zevallos, O, Major, P, Polkowski, W, Bernardo, C, Santos, J, Freire, JP, Costa, P, Cho, I, Florin, A, Predescu, D, Negoi, I, Hoara, P, Mikhailovich, KN, Ahmed, S, Gonzalez, CL, Martinez, E, Diezdelval, I, de Tomas, J, Galindo, J, Alvarex, LS, Pera, M, Esteban, MB, Trincado, MT, Navarro, M, Núñez, RMR, Gianchandani, R, Morales-Conde, S, Martín, VC, Domínguez, YG, Mahadi, S, Nilsson, M, Gutknecht, S, Moenig, S, Mantziari, S, Borbely, Y, Kuei, HP, Guner, A, Isik, A, Mangancolak, E, Faruk, K, Akkapulu, N, Yalav, O, Bilecik, T, Chang, A, Morse, C, Molena, D, Wood, DE, Luketich, JD, Steliga, M, Kitano, M, Carrott, P, Yang, SC, Litle, VR, Bowne, W & Khorgami, Z 2020, 'The influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on esophagogastric cancer services: An international survey of esophagogastric surgeons', Diseases of The Esophagus, vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/dote/doaa054

TY - JOUR

T1 - The influence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on esophagogastric cancer services:

T2 - An international survey of esophagogastric surgeons

AU - Kamarajah, Sivesh K

AU - Markar, Sheraz R

AU - Singh, Pritam

AU - Griffiths, Ewan A

AU - Oesophagogastric Anastomosis Audit Group

AU - Nieponice, Alejandro

AU - Quesada, Bernabe M. Q

AU - Daneri, Gustavo A.

AU - Foley, Daniel

AU - Mitchell, David

AU - Watson, David

AU - Kohn, Geoffrey P

AU - Shimokawa, Kontoku

AU - Hii, Michael

AU - Talbot, Michael

AU - Merrett, Neil

AU - Cashin, Paul

AU - Townend, Phillip J.

AU - Finch, Robert

AU - Jacobs, Rod

AU - Gananadha, Sivakumar

AU - Bright, Tim

AU - Hill, Vanessa

AU - Öfner-Velano, Dietmar

AU - Vandaele, Elke

AU - Depypere, Lieven

AU - deMaat, Michiel deMaat

AU - Mandeville, Yannick

AU - Lourenco, Laercio G.

AU - Moreira, Luis F.

AU - Lourenco, Laercio G.

AU - Furtado, Wendel

AU - Alegbeleye, Bamidele J.

AU - Kidane, Biniam

AU - Johnston, Brian

AU - French, Daniel G.

AU - Ferri, Lorenzo

AU - Coburn, Natalie

AU - Rosero, German A.

AU - Vargas, Jota

AU - Guevarac, Raul

AU - Faltova, Hana

AU - Ainsworth, Alan

AU - Kjaer, Daniel W.

AU - Barbary, Mohabel

AU - Shetiwy, Mosab

AU - Ez, Reda

AU - Kechagias, Aristotelis

AU - Brigand, Cecile

AU - Collet, Denis

AU - Piessen, Guillaume

AU - Chirica, Mircea

AU - Glehen, Olivier

AU - Cattan, Pierre

AU - Msika, Simon

AU - Djourno, Xavier

AU - Novotny, Alexander

AU - Mueller, Beat

AU - Reim, Daniel

AU - Herzberg, Jonas

AU - Reichert, Martin

AU - Biebl, Matthias

AU - Reeh, Matthias

AU - Grimminger, Peter

AU - Boddy, Alex

AU - Baker, Andrew

AU - Cowie, Andrew

AU - Chaudhry, Asif

AU - Alkhaffaf, Bilal

AU - Peters, Christopher

AU - Titcomb, Daniel

AU - Bowrey, David J.

AU - Cheong, Edward

AU - Griffiths, Ewen A.

AU - Noble, Fergus

AU - van Workum, Frans

AU - Macaulay, Graeme D

AU - Kelly, Jamie

AU - Dawas, Khalid

AU - Wadley, Martin

AU - Forshaw, Matthew

AU - Navidi, Maziar

AU - Tewari, Nila

AU - Tucker, Olga

AU - Leeder, Paul

AU - Wilkerson, Paul

AU - Jambulingam, Periyathambi

AU - Singh, Pritam

AU - Vohra, Ravinder

AU - Kennedy, Ray

AU - Gopalarao, Rohith

AU - Jaunoo, Shameen

AU - Dwerryhouse, Simon

AU - McNally, Stephen

AU - Adil, Tanveer

AU - Underwood, Timothy J.

AU - Jagadesham, Vamshi

AU - Al-Khyatt, Waleed

AU - Viswanath, YKS

AU - Mastoraki, Aikaterini

AU - Charalabopoulos, Alexandros

AU - Manatakis, Dimitrios

AU - Schizas, Dimitrios

AU - Theodorou, Dimitris

AU - Baili, Efstratia

AU - Christodoulidis, Gregory

AU - Ioannidis, Orestis

AU - Liakakos, Theodoros

AU - Dimitris, Zacharoulis

AU - Wong, Claudia

AU - Papp, Andras

AU - Tóth, Dezső

AU - Maruthachalam, Karthik

AU - Hamdani, Nissar H.

AU - Mahmoodzadeh, Habibollah

AU - Kennedy, Andrew J.

AU - Collins, Chris

AU - Donohoe, Claire

AU - Reynolds, John

AU - Fiorillo, Claudio

AU - Bernardi, Daniele

AU - Rosa, Fausto

AU - Mura, Gianni

AU - Sica, Giuseppe S

AU - Weindelmayer, Jacob

AU - Moletta, Lucia

AU - Angrisani, Luigi

AU - Bonavina, Luigi

AU - Migliore, Marcello

AU - Catarci, Marco

AU - Marino, Marco V.

AU - Valmasoni, Michele

AU - Rosati, Riccardo

AU - Stefano, Santi

AU - Rause, Stefano

AU - Fumagalli Romario, Uberto

AU - Baiocchi, Gianluca

AU - Murakami, Masahiko

AU - Sasako, Mitsuru

AU - Mine, Shinji

AU - Obed, Aiman

AU - Haddad, Ashraf

AU - Muhinga, Morris

AU - Hallal, Ali

AU - Sfeir, Pierre

AU - Chemaly, Rodrigue

AU - Elhadi, Muhammed

AU - Bausys, Augustinas

AU - Decker, George

AU - Azagra, Juan S.

AU - Voon, Kelvin

AU - Mahendran, Hans

AU - Shukri Bin Jahit, Mohammad

AU - Wei Jin, Wong

AU - Kosai, Nik

AU - Choong, Lau Peng

AU - Takahashi, Alberto

AU - Duranee, Sosa

AU - Wijnhoven, Bas

AU - Klarenbeek, Bastiaan

AU - Rosman, Camiel

AU - Wassenaa, EB

AU - van Nieuwenhoven, EJ

AU - Nieuwenhuijzen, Grard

AU - Stoot, Jan

AU - Haveman, Jan W.

AU - Heisterkamp, Joos

AU - van Det, Marc J.

AU - van Berge Henegouwen, Mark Ivan

AU - Luyer, Misha

AU - van Duijvendijk, Peter

AU - van Esser, S.

AU - Bouwense, Stefan

AU - Gisbertz, Suzanne S.

AU - Rossaak, Jeremy

AU - Smith, Mark

AU - Szecket, Nicholas

AU - Rossaak, Jeremy

AU - Ademola, Adeyeye

AU - Wuraola , Funmilola

AU - Tareen, Adil

AU - Jabiles, Andrés G.

AU - Zevallos, Omel

AU - Major, Piotr

AU - Polkowski, Wojciech

AU - Bernardo, Carina

AU - Santos, Jorge

AU - Freire, Jose P.

AU - Costa, Paulo

AU - Cho, In

AU - Florin, Achim

AU - Predescu, Dragos

AU - Negoi, Ionut

AU - Hoara, Petre

AU - Mikhailovich, Kiselev N.

AU - Ahmed, Saleem

AU - Gonzalez, Carlos L.

AU - Martinez, Enriquet

AU - Diezdelval, Ismael

AU - de Tomas, Jorge

AU - Galindo, Julio

AU - Alvarex, Lourdes S.

AU - Pera, Manuel

AU - Esteban, Marcos B.

AU - Trincado, Miguel T.

AU - Navarro, Mingol

AU - Núñez, Rafael M. R.

AU - Gianchandani, Rajesh

AU - Morales-Conde, Salvador

AU - Martín, Vanessa C.

AU - Domínguez, Yannko G.

AU - Mahadi, Seif

AU - Nilsson, Magnus

AU - Gutknecht, Stefan

AU - Moenig, Stefan

AU - Mantziari, Styliani

AU - Borbely, Yves

AU - Kuei, Hsu Po

AU - Guner, Ali

AU - Isik, Arda

AU - Mangancolak, Elif

AU - Faruk, Karateke

AU - Akkapulu, Nezih

AU - Yalav, Orçun

AU - Bilecik, Tuna

AU - Chang, Andrew

AU - Morse, Christopher

AU - Molena, Daniela

AU - Wood, Douglas E.

AU - Luketich, James D.

AU - Steliga, Matthew

AU - Kitano, Mio

AU - Carrott, Philip

AU - Yang, Stephen C.

AU - Litle, Virginia R.

AU - Bowne, Wilbur

AU - Khorgami, Zhamak

PY - 2020/7/1

Y1 - 2020/7/1

N2 - Background: Several guidelines to guide clinical practice among esophagogastric surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic were produced. However, none provide reflection of current service provision. This international survey aimed to clarify the changes observed in esophageal and gastric cancer management and surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey covering key areas for esophagogastric cancer services, including staging investigations and oncological and surgical therapy before and during (at two separate time-points-24th March 2020 and 18th April 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic were developed. Results: A total of 234 respondents from 225 centers and 49 countries spanning six continents completed the first round of the online survey, of which 79% (n = 184) completed round 2. There was variation in the availability of staging investigations ranging from 26.5% for endoscopic ultrasound to 62.8% for spiral computed tomography scan. Definitive chemoradiotherapy was offered in 14.8% (adenocarcinoma) and 47.0% (squamous cell carcinoma) of respondents and significantly increased by almost three-fold and two-fold, respectively, in both round 1 and 2. There were uncertainty and heterogeneity surrounding prioritization of patients undergoing cancer resections. Of the surgeons symptomatic with COVID-19, only 40.2% (33/82) had routine access to COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction testing for staff. Of those who had testing available (n = 33), only 12.1% (4/33) had tested positive. Conclusions: These data highlight management challenges and several practice variations in caring for patients with esophagogastric cancers. Therefore, there is a need for clear consistent guidelines to be in place in the event of a further pandemic to ensure a standardized level of oncological care for patients with esophagogastric cancers.

AB - Background: Several guidelines to guide clinical practice among esophagogastric surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic were produced. However, none provide reflection of current service provision. This international survey aimed to clarify the changes observed in esophageal and gastric cancer management and surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey covering key areas for esophagogastric cancer services, including staging investigations and oncological and surgical therapy before and during (at two separate time-points-24th March 2020 and 18th April 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic were developed. Results: A total of 234 respondents from 225 centers and 49 countries spanning six continents completed the first round of the online survey, of which 79% (n = 184) completed round 2. There was variation in the availability of staging investigations ranging from 26.5% for endoscopic ultrasound to 62.8% for spiral computed tomography scan. Definitive chemoradiotherapy was offered in 14.8% (adenocarcinoma) and 47.0% (squamous cell carcinoma) of respondents and significantly increased by almost three-fold and two-fold, respectively, in both round 1 and 2. There were uncertainty and heterogeneity surrounding prioritization of patients undergoing cancer resections. Of the surgeons symptomatic with COVID-19, only 40.2% (33/82) had routine access to COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction testing for staff. Of those who had testing available (n = 33), only 12.1% (4/33) had tested positive. Conclusions: These data highlight management challenges and several practice variations in caring for patients with esophagogastric cancers. Therefore, there is a need for clear consistent guidelines to be in place in the event of a further pandemic to ensure a standardized level of oncological care for patients with esophagogastric cancers.

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Esophagogastric Cancer Services

KW - Esophagogastric Surgeons

KW - COVID-19

KW - Esophageal surgery

KW - Pandemic

KW - Gastric cancer

KW - Esophageal cancer

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089786204&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/dote/doaa054

DO - 10.1093/dote/doaa054

M3 - Article

SN - 1120-8694

VL - 33

SP - 1

EP - 12

JO - Diseases of The Esophagus

JF - Diseases of The Esophagus

IS - 7

ER -