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. 2020 Jul;42(7):1466-1470.
doi: 10.1002/hed.26263. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Clinical and surgical management of patients with head and neck cancer in a COVID-19 dedicated center in Italy

Jacopo Galli  1   2 , Stefano Settimi  2 , Laura Tricarico  2 , Giovanni Almadori  1   2 , Gaetano Paludetti  1   2
Affiliations

Clinical and surgical management of patients with head and neck cancer in a COVID-19 dedicated center in Italy

Jacopo Galli et al. Head Neck. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: For the EARs NOSE AND THROAT (ENT) surgeon, there are many challenges that show-up in the clinical management of a patient affected by a head and neck cancer during COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the postoperative period.

Methods: During the acute COVID-19 emergency phase in Italy, we analyzed the management of a patient affected by a head and neck cancer. We reported several clinical data about the hospitalization period, pointing out the difficulties encountered both from clinical and management point of view.

Results: During pandemic, we admitted 27 oncological patients at our ENT Department. Delays in surgical procedures, complications of hospitalizations, need for radiological studies, and possible transfer to other hospital ward, due to suspect SARS-CoV-2 infection, were registered.

Conclusions: The changes in the whole health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the management of patients with head and neck cancer, generating several clinical challenges for the ENT surgeon.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; head and neck cancer; patient management; tracheostomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

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