“Covid-19 Free” Hospital Area Can Save Life After Surgery: Study

Kuala Lumpur, October 7-One study argued that setting up a coronavirus-free hospital area would require continued cancer surgery during a pandemic, resulting in a Covid-19-related lung infection. It has been shown that the risk of postoperative death due to the virus can be reduced.

Patients undergoing surgery and inpatient care in the “Covid-19-free” area have better results, according to a study by the COVIDSurg Collaborative, which is led by researchers at the University of Birmingham and consists of experts from more than 130 countries, including Malaysia. I was able to enjoy it.

According to the study, the “Covid-19 Free” hospital area has improved the safety of surgery through a strict policy of separating Covid-19 patients from those undergoing surgery.

“More patients will face delays as many parts of the world, including Malaysia, are facing a recurrence of the pandemic. Patients will be surgically delayed when surgery for cancer or other time-dependent conditions is delayed. It can progress to an untreatable condition, “said Professor April Camilla Rosslani, President of the Surgery University of the Malaysian Academy of Medicine (AMM). In the statement.

“During the first wave in Malaysia, the Covid-19 Hospital designation, and the Hybrid Covid-19 Hospital with Covid-19 Free Area, are on standby without undue delay and isolation of affected patients Allowed for safe resumption of cancer surgery.

“Nevertheless, in the light of the recent surge, we need to be vigilant and maintain best practices. Protocol retraining and sourcing of appropriate testing facilities and effective protective equipment is proactive rather than follow-up. You have to do it that way, “added Dr. April.

another COVIDSurg joint research scheduled for May last year Backlog of 151,717 surgeries at a Malaysian hospital during a 12-week hospital service interruption due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Requires 11 months of backlog clearance time.

Among the Malaysian hospitals that participated in the study, the overall surgery discontinuation rate was 70.9 percent. The most canceled surgeries were benign surgery (81.5%), followed by cancer surgery (41%) and obstetrics (26.1%).

Since October 1, the number of cases of Covid-19 has increased rapidly every day in Malaysia and has been reported nationwide. Starting October 2, Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor has become a dedicated Covid-19 facility that treats only coronavirus patients.

A new study by COVIDSurg Collaborative, published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, examined data from 9,171 patients in 55 countries on five different continents from the start of the pandemic to mid-April this year.

Researchers found that lung complications were 2.2% in the “Covid-19-free” hospital area, compared to 4.9% in the unprotected area.

Postoperative mortality was also 0.7% in the “Covid-19 Free” hospital area, compared to 1.7% in the unprotected area.

However, only 27% of survey respondents received care in protected areas.

“When healthcare providers resume selective cancer surgery, they must look to protect cancer surgery patients from harm by investing in a dedicated Covid-19 free hospital area. , Covid-19-treated patients can be tailored to locally available resources so that they are not mixed with patients in need of surgery, “said Dr. Aneel Bangu of the National Institutes of Health (NIHR). Stated.

“But this is a major challenge for many hospitals around the world. Governments and hospital providers must help fund this major international redesign of surgical services and protect patients. No. The free area of ​​Covid-19 can save many lives during the future wave by allowing surgery to continue safely despite the high infection rate in the community. I will. “

In Malaysia, it is estimated that about 180,000 surgeries are performed annually to remove cancer. Studies show that setting up a Covid-19-free hospital area will prevent 1,800 unnecessary Covid-19-related deaths after cancer surgery in the UK next year.

“A major reorganization of hospital services to provide a free area of ​​Covid-19 for selective surgery needs to be justified by such evidence as it redirects time and resources from other services. These efforts have proven to be essential in protecting patients undergoing surgery during pandemics, “said Dr. James Grassbay, research leader at the University of Birmingham.

“Our data show that the free hospital area of ​​Covid-19 is beneficial both when the infection rate in the community is low and when it is high. Countries that may suffer the wave of the future. We recommend that you set up Covid-19 free areas in all countries currently affected by the pandemic, including.

“But overcoming the challenge of setting up such a route, including separate hospitals to provide selective surgery, can lead to unintended consequences. Optimizing the patient’s medical balance. To do this, we need to carefully monitor the impact on the hospital, “he added.

In April, former Health Director Dr. Mohamed Ismail Merican said both Malaysian public and private hospitals were instructed to postpone various clinical services during the Covid-19 outbreak. He urged hospitals not to postpone cancer surgery, saying it should not be considered “selective.”

However Ministry of Health (MOH) claimed in April last year During the Covid-19 pandemic, emergency and cancer surgery in public hospitals were not discontinued.