COVID-protected Pathways for Image-guided Lung Cancer Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cohort Study

Overview

Journal Br J Radiol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Radiology

Date 2022 Oct 4

PMID 36193768

Authors

Alexander Sheeka

Ajay Singaravelou

Emily Bartlett

Nishanth Sivarasan

Bhavin Rawal

Anand Devaraj

Sujal Desai

Simon Padley

Carole A Ridge

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the experience of COVID-protected and mixed cohort pathways in COVID-19 transmission at a tertiary referral hospital for elective CT-guided lung biopsy and ablation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: From September 2020 to August 2021, patients admitted for elective thoracic intervention were treated at a tertiary hospital (Site 1). Site 1 received patients for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and invasive ventilation in the treatment of COVID-19. Shared imaging, theater, and hallway facilities were used.From April 2020 to August 2020, patients admitted for elective thoracic intervention were treated at a COVID-protected hospital (Site 2). No patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were treated at Site 2.Patients were surveyed for clinical and laboratory signs of COVID-19 infection up to 30 days post-procedure.

Results: At Sites 1 and 2, patients (2.4%) were tested positive for COVID-19 at 10 and 14 days post-procedure.At Site 2, there were no COVID-19 positive cases within 30 days of undergoing elective thoracic intervention.

Conclusion: A mixed-site method for infection control could represent a pragmatic approach to the management of elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic or for similar illnesses.

Advances In Knowledge: Mixed-cohort infection control is possible in the prevention of nosocomial COVID-19 infection.

References

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