COVID-19 and the urological practice: changes and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to urological patient management.
• Urology, like other surgical fields, adopted an emergency-focused approach during the pandemic.
• The de-escalation phase of the pandemic introduces new complexities for urological services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urological care.
• To discuss the necessary adaptations and future challenges in urology post-pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A non-systematic literature search was performed using Medline and Web of Science.
• Keywords included 'COVID-19', 'SARS-CoV-2', and 'urology'.
• Articles were included without time or language limitations.

Main Results:

• Urological services prioritized urgent oncological and emergency-trauma procedures during the pandemic peak.
• Recommendations for prioritizing surgical procedures evolved with pandemic phases.
• Extended waiting times for appointments and procedures, decreased resident clinical activity, and the potential of telemedicine were observed.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted urological care delivery.
• Urologists need to adapt to evolving circumstances, prioritizing patient and staff safety.
• Strategic planning is essential for maintaining high-quality urological services.