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Impact of COVID-19 on pediatric surgical practice in Taiwan: a comprehensive analysis
Sheng-Yang Huang1,2,3, Chia-Man Chou1,2,3, Hou-Chuan Chen1
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic reduced pediatric surgeries in Taiwan but maintained emergency care. Male patients increased, and head/neck and GI surgeries rose, showing healthcare adaptability.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted global healthcare systems and medical practices.
- Taiwan's effective public health measures provide a unique context for studying pandemic impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the specific effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric surgical practice in Taiwan.
- To compare surgical case volumes, patient demographics, and procedure trends before and during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric surgical data from January 2020 to August 2022.
- Comparison with historical data from January 2017 to August 2019.
- Examination of surgical case volumes, patient demographics, indications, and care trends.
Main Results:
- Total surgical cases decreased from 2,255 to 1,931.
- Average patient age slightly increased (4.81 to 5.10 years), with a significant rise in male patients (68.9% to 73.5%).
- Head and neck, gastrointestinal surgeries increased; average hospital stay lengthened; hypospadias and liver tumor surgeries rose, while emergency care remained stable.
Conclusions:
- Taiwan's healthcare system demonstrated adaptability in maintaining pediatric surgical care during the pandemic.
- The pandemic led to increased gender disparity and a shift towards urgent/emergent pediatric surgical care.
- Findings highlight the need for adaptable healthcare strategies during public health emergencies.
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted global healthcare systems, causing significant disruptions in various medical practices. This study focuses on the specific effects of the pandemic on pediatric surgical practice in Taiwan, a region known for its effective public health measures and proximity to the initial outbreak.
Methods:
The study analyzes data from January 2020 to August 2022, comparing it with historical records from January 2017 to August 2019. It examines changes in surgical case volumes, patient demographics, surgical indications, and trends in preoperative evaluations, surgical procedures, and postoperative care.
Results:
The study reveals a decrease in total surgical cases from 2,255 to 1,931 during the pandemic. Notable findings include a slight increase in the average age of patients (4.81 to 5.10 years, p = 0.064), a significant shift in gender distribution towards male patients (68.9% to 73.5%, p = 0.0009), and changes in the types of surgical procedures performed, with head and neck and gastrointestinal surgeries seeing an increase. The average hospital stay lengthened, and certain specific surgical diseases, like hypospadias and liver tumors, showed an increase. However, the age distribution of pediatric surgical patients remained stable, and emergency surgical care was resiliently maintained.
Discussion:
The findings demonstrate the adaptability of Taiwan's healthcare system in maintaining pediatric surgical care during the pandemic. The study highlights a significant gender disparity in surgical interventions and a shift towards more urgent and emergent care, reflecting the reorganization of healthcare services during this period. The study's limitations include its retrospective nature and focus on a single institution.
Conclusion:
This research contributes valuable insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric surgical practice in Taiwan. It underscores the importance of adaptable healthcare strategies in ensuring continuity and quality of care during public health emergencies. Future research should focus on multi-institutional data and prospective studies to further understand these dynamics.
