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. 2021 Feb 18;28(1):940-949.
doi: 10.3390/curroncol28010092.

Thoracic Surgeon Impressions of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lung Cancer Care-Lessons from the First Wave in Canada

Roy A Hilzenrat  1 , Shaun A Deen  2   3 , John Yee  2   4   5 , Kyle A Grant  2   4 , Ahmad S Ashrafi  2   6 , Shaun Coughlin  2   7 , Anna L McGuire  2   4   5
Affiliations

Thoracic Surgeon Impressions of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lung Cancer Care-Lessons from the First Wave in Canada

Roy A Hilzenrat et al. Curr Oncol. .

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has invariably changed the way lung cancer surgical care is provided in Canada. Despite relevant management guidelines, the way in which cancer care has been affected has yet to be described for thoracic surgical populations. Routine lung cancer physiologic and staging assessments are unique in that they are droplet producing and aerosolizing procedures. Our objective was to quantify the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical lung cancer care as perceived by practicing thoracic surgeons during the first wave of the pandemic in Canada.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to members of the Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons. The survey was designed to determine surgeon perception of lung cancer preoperative care during the Canadian pandemic-instilled period of resource reallocation compared to standard care. Planned analyses were exploratory in nature; with count and frequency distributions of responses quantified.

Results: Fifty-three thoracic surgeons completed the survey. Responses were collected from all Canadian provinces. Little change in access to preoperative imaging was noted. However, a significant decrease in access to lung function and bronchoscopy testing occurred. Pulmonary surgery was perceived to be lengthier with reduced operating theater availability. Despite decreased OR access, only 40% of surgeons were aware of respective institutional mitigation strategies.

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on standard lung cancer care preoperative workup. Further inquiry using institutional data is warranted to quantify its impact on cancer patient outcomes. Assessing the extent and effects of newly present barriers to standard lung cancer care is essential in forming appropriate mitigation strategies and planning for future pandemic waves.

Keywords: COVID-19; Canada; cancer care; lung cancer; survey; thoracic malignancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

McGuire receives in kind research support from Canexia Health, and research funding from Astra Zeneca Canada unrelated to the current manuscript. None of the other authors have a conflict of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diverging stacked bar chart displaying thoracic surgeon impressions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on lung cancer preoperative and operative variables. The X-axis displays respondent count, while the Y-axis lists the variable for thoracic surgeon consideration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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