Pituitary surgery during Covid-19: a first hand experience and evaluation

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Endocrinology
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated significant changes in hospital operations.
• Endoscopic endonasal surgery carries potential risks during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and safety of performing pituitary region surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate surgical outcomes for patients with pituitary tumors under pandemic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Surgery was performed on five patients (three with macro GH-secreting tumors, two with micro ACTH-secreting tumors) after two negative COVID-19 tests.
• All patients were managed as potentially infectious throughout the surgical procedures.
• Neurosurgeons involved also underwent serial COVID-19 testing.

Main Results:

• No patients or surgical operators developed COVID-19 symptoms post-surgery.
• All COVID-19 tests for the neurosurgeons remained negative.
• The implemented safety measures were effective in preventing intraoperative transmission.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery can be safely performed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The described safety protocols are effective for protecting both patients and healthcare professionals.
• This approach ensures continuity of care for non-urgent pituitary surgeries.