Publication:

The pattern, management, and preventive protocols used for urological procedures during the pandemic of COVID-19: an experience of a tertiary care centre

Background During pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is a need for prioritization of the patients. Suspension of elective procedures avoids the load on already burdened medical facilities. Our aim was to highlight the pattern of urological procedures during the pandemic, preventive protocol used, and challenges faced in their management.

Methods This was a retrospective observational study of 152 patients who underwent urological procedures between March 22 and June 30, 2020, at a tertiary care centre. Outpatient department (OPD) consultation and elective urological procedures were suspended. Only emergency, semi-emergency, and OPD room procedures were performed. Procedures were classified into four categories i.e. emergency, semi-emergency, OPD room, and elective procedures. Patient demographics and operative details were assessed. Descriptive statistics were applied.

Results A total of 152 patients were included in the study. Majority of the patients were our follow up (70.4%) and rest were new patients (29.6%). Out of the total procedures done, 67.1% were emergency or semi-emergency and 32.9% were OPD room procedures. Local anaesthesia was the most used anaesthesia (69.1%). COVID-19 swab testing was done only for the inpatients (41) of which eight patients were tested positive. In the end, none of the health care workers had symptoms of COVID-19.

Conclusions The pattern of surgeries shows that most of the urological procedures performed during COVID-19 pandemic were for either emergency or semi-emergency urological conditions. Obstructive uropathy is one of the commonest indications for the urological procedures performed during this pandemic.