Time to surgery in thoracic cancers and prioritization during COVID-19: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has overwhelmed hospital resources worldwide, requiring widespread cancellation of non-emergency operations, including lung and esophageal cancer operations. In the United States, while hospitals begin to increase surgical volume and tackle the backlog of cases, the specter of a "second wave," with a potential vaccine months to years away, highlights the ongoing need to triage cases based upon the risk of surgical delay. We synthesize the available literature on time to surgery and its impact on outcomes along with a critical appraisal of the released triage guidelines in the United States.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature review using PubMed according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-anal

SUBMITTER: Fligor SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7711379 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature