Surgical emergencies during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic lockdown: what happened?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Surgical Care

Background:

• The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic profoundly impacted global daily life.
• Italy was the first Western nation to implement a nationwide lockdown.
• Public health implications of these restrictive measures require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown on surgical emergency volumes.
• To analyze changes in surgical care delivery during the lockdown period.
• To provide insights for health authorities and policymakers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted.
• Electronic medical records from a tertiary referral center were analyzed.
• Data from February 21st to May 3rd, 2020, were compared with the same periods in 2019 and 2018.

Main Results:

• Surgical admissions decreased by approximately 50% in 2020 compared to 2019 and 2018.
• The distribution of admissions across surgical wards remained consistent.
• The time from triage to the operating room was significantly reduced in 2020 (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• The Italian SARS-CoV-2 lockdown served as a large-scale social experiment.
• Activity restrictions impacted surgical access and epidemiology.
• Study findings offer valuable data for public health strategies and policy decisions regarding exceptional events.