ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put a substantial burden on the Italian healthcare system, resulting in the restructuring of hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients. However, this has likely impacted access to care for patients experiencing other conditions. We aimed to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on access to care for patients with urgent/emergent urological conditions throughout Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 33 urological units in the AGILE consortium, asking clinicians to report on the number of urgent/emergent urological patients seen and/or undergoing surgery over a 3-week period during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak and a reference week prior to the outbreak. ANOVA and linear regression models were used to quantify these changes. RESULTS: Data from 27 urological centres in Italy showed a decrease from 956 patients/week seen just prior to the outbreak to 291 patients/week seen by the end of the study period. There was a difference in the number of patients with urgent/emergent urological disease seen within/during the different weeks (all p values < 0.05). A significant decrease in the number of patients presenting with haematuria, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, scrotal pain, renal colic, or trauma and urgent/emergent cases that required surgery was reported (all p values < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In Italy, during the COVID-19 outbreak there has been a decrease in patients seeking help for urgent/emergent urological conditions. Restructuring of hospitals and clinics is mandatory to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the healthcare system should continue to provide adequate levels of care also to patients with other conditions.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Health Services Accessibility/trends , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Urology/trends , Ambulatory Care , Betacoronavirus , COVID-19 , Disease Outbreaks , Hospitals/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Pandemics , Regression Analysis , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urologic Diseases/epidemiology , Urologic Diseases/therapy , Urology/methodsABSTRACT
Lipomas are benign mesenchymal tumours that are rarely seen in the scrotum. Few cases of primary scrotal lipomas originating from the scrotal wall have been reported in the literature. We describe the case of a giant primary intrascrotal lipoma presenting as scrotal swelling and discomfort. Findings from scrotal magnetic resonance imaging were highly suspicious for lipoma. The mass was completely excised and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of lipoma.