Analysis of patient outcomes after urological surgery during the second and third waves of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a high incidence area.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze surgical safety through postoperative COVID-19 incidence and mortality at the urology department of a tertiary hospital located in Madrid (Spain). METHODS: Observational, prospective study including all patients undergoing urological surgery from 1st March 2020 to 28th February 2021. According to the hospital organization and local epidemiological situation we delimitate three epidemic waves. A set of screening and protective measures was applied from 4th May onwards. Demographic, baseline, surgical and perioperative variables, as well as postoperative outcomes, were collected. Telephone follow-up was performed at least 3 weeks after hospital discharge. RESULTS: 940 urological surgeries were performed, 12 of them had to be rescheduled due to active or recent SARS-CoV-2 infection identified by the screening protocol. Thirty-one patients developed COVID-19 (3.3% incidence) and 7 died (22.6% mortality). The average time to onset of symptoms was 62.6 days after discharge, being 25 cases attributable to community transmission. The remaining 6 cases, due to in-hospital transmission, had worse outcomes. Five of them were identified during the first wave, especially when no preoperative PCR was obtained. In contrast, during the second and third waves, fewer and milder cases were diagnosed, with just 1 in-hospital transmission among 857 urological patients. CONCLUSIONS: After implementing complete protective measures, postoperative in-hospital COVID-19 cases almost disappeared, even during the second and third waves. Most of the cases were due to community transmission and thus driven by the general epidemiological situation. While hospitals follow recommendations to avoid COVID-19 infection, urological surgery remains safe and can be maintained.

[Practical considerations for implementing health outcomes measurement projects within a healthcare organization: Delphi Expert Consensus Study]. / Consideraciones prácticas para la implementación de proyectos de medición de resultados en salud en una organización sanitaria: Estudio Delphi de consenso de expertos.

INTRODUCTION: Measuring health outcomes and costs per patient is an essential element of value-based healthcare (VBHC). The aim of the study was to generate expert consensus on the activities required to implement it. METHODS: A two-round modified Delphi study with healthcare professionals, quality and clinical management methodologists and managers with academic and/or practical experience in outcome measurement projects. A median equal to or greater than 4 and a relative interquartile range (RIQR) equal to or greater than 25% were established as consensus criteria. RESULTS: Consensus was obtained on 91% of the items (N=74/81). In terms of feasibility, the items that received the highest score and consensus were the existence of data protection guarantees (median=5; mean=4.8; RIQR=0%), the vision and motivation of healthcare professionals (median=5; mean=4.7; RIQR=20%), the existence and availability of ICT tools (or systems) for data recording (median=5; mean=4.5; RIQR=20%), and having sufficient funding to undertake the project (median=5; mean=4.2; RIQR=20%). The most highly rated factors adding complexity were the number of units or departments involved in the care process for the clinical condition (median=5; mean=4.4; RIQR=20%), having an accepted set of monitoring indicators for the condition (median=5; mean=4.4; RIQR=20%), and the involvement of several levels of care in the project (median=5; mean=4.3; RIQR=20%). CONCLUSIONS: We describe practical aspects for the application of systematic outcomes measurement in routine clinical practice. These results can serve as a tool for prioritising, sizing, resource planning, and estimating implementation costs.

Cirugía urológica durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Análisis descriptivo de la experiencia en un Servicio de Urología durante distintas fases epidemiológicas / Urological surgery during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Descriptive analysis of the experience in a Urology Department across the pandemic phases

INTRODUCCIÓN: La pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 ha cambiado la práctica urológica a nivel mundial. Nuestro objetivo es describir los resultados en salud observados en los pacientes intervenidos en el Servicio de Urología de un hospital terciario, a lo largo de diferentes fases epidemiológicas. MÉTODOS: Estudio de cohortes observacional que incluye todos los pacientes intervenidos entre el 1 de marzo y el 14 de mayo. Según la organización hospitalaria, distinguimos 3 periodos: durante las primeras 2 semanas no hubo cambios (1.er periodo), en las 7 semanas siguientes solo se realizaron intervenciones urgentes previa extracción de exudado nasofaríngeo (2.o periodo), y tras el 4 de mayo se reanudó la cirugía electiva aplicando un protocolo de cribado multidisciplinar (3.er periodo). Las variables demográficas y basales, las quirúrgicas y perioperatorias, así como los resultados postoperatorios, se obtuvieron de forma retrospectiva (periodos 1 y 2) y prospectiva (periodo 3). El seguimiento telefónico se realizó al menos 3 semanas tras el alta hospitalaria. RESULTADOS: Se realizaron 103 cirugías urológicas y fueron diagnosticados de COVID-19 11 pacientes, 8 de ellos en el 1.er periodo. El diagnóstico era conocido en un paciente, mientras que los otros 10 desarrollaron la enfermedad en una media de 25 días tras la intervención y 16,6 días tras el alta. Cuatro de 7 pacientes trasplantados resultaron afectados. Se registraron 3 muertes por la enfermedad: una mujer de 69 años trasplantada y 2 varones mayores de 80 años con comorbilidades y alto riesgo anestésico a los que se realizó drenaje de absceso retroperitoneal y cirugía retrógrada intrarrenal, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: La infección por SARS-CoV-2 afectó principalmente a trasplantados renales o pacientes añosos con alto riesgo anestésico, durante las 2 primeras semanas de la pandemia. Tras implantar la PCR preoperatoria y un protocolo completo de cribado, los casos se redujeron de manera sustancial y se pudo operar con seguridad

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has changed the urological practice around the world. Our objective is to describe the outcomes presented by patients undergoing surgery in the urology department of a tertiary hospital, across the pandemic phases. METHODS: Observational, cohort study including all patients undergoing surgery from March 1 to May 14. According to the hospital organization, we identified three periods: there were no changes during the first two weeks (1st. period), the following seven weeks, when only urgent interventions were carried out after performance of nasopharyngeal swab test (2nd. period), and finally, elective surgery was resumed on May 4, after the implementation of a multidisciplinary screening protocol (3rd. period). Demographic, baseline, surgical and perioperative variables, as well as postoperative outcomes, were obtained in a retrospective (periods 1 and 2) and prospective (period 3) manner. Telephone follow-up was initiated at least 3 weeks after hospital discharge. RESULTS: 103 urological surgeries were performed, and 11 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, 8 of them within the 1st. period. The diagnosis was already known in 1 patient, while the other 10 developed the disease in an average of 25 days after the intervention and 16,6 days after discharge. Of seven transplant patients, four got the infection. Three deaths were recorded due to the disease: a 69-year-old woman transplanted and two men over 80 with comorbidities and high anesthetic risk who underwent drainage of retroperitoneal abscess and retrograde intrarenal surgery, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection mainly affected renal transplant recipients or elderly patients with high anesthetic risk, during the first 2 weeks of the pandemic. After implementing preoperative PCR tests and a comprehensive screening protocol, cases were substantially reduced, and safe surgical procedures were achieved

Diseño de un protocolo asistencial para el reinicio de la cirugía urológica programada en periodo de epidemia COVID-19 / Design of an assistance protocol for the restart of scheduled urologic surgery in a COVID-19 epidemic period

OBJETIVO: Diseñar un protocolo asistencial para reiniciar la actividad quirúrgica programada en un servicio de Urología de un hospital de tercer nivel de la Comunidad de Madrid, de manera segura para nuestros pacientes y profesionales en el contexto de la epidemia por coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Constituimos un grupo multidisciplinar que se encargó de analizar las diferentes recomendaciones de la literatura, organizaciones sanitarias nacionales e internacionales y sociedades científicas, así como de su aplicación a nuestro medio. Una vez reiniciada la cirugía programada, se está llevando a cabo un seguimiento de los pacientes intervenidos en cuanto a complicaciones relacionadas con COVID-19. RESULTADOS: Desde el reinicio de la actividad quirúrgica se han programado 19 pacientes, de los cuales 2 han sido suspendidos por presentar COVID-19, diagnosticado uno por PCR positiva para SARS-CoV-2, y otro por alteraciones analíticas y radiológicas compatibles con esta infección. En el seguimiento realizado no se han detectado complicaciones relacionadas con COVID-19, con una mediana de seguimiento de 10 días (4-14 días). CONCLUSIONES: Resultados preliminares indican que el protocolo diseñado para asegurar la correcta aplicación de medidas de prevención de transmisión de la infección por coronavirus está siendo seguro y efectivo

OBJECTIVE: Design a care protocol to restart scheduled surgical activity in a Urology service of a third level hospital in the Community of Madrid, in a safe way for our patients and professionals in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus epidemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary group reviewed the different recommendations of the literature, national and international health organizations and scientific societies, as well as their application to our environment. Once scheduled surgery has restarted, the patients undergoing surgery for complications related to COVID-19 are being followed up. RESULTS: Since the resumption of surgical activity, 19 patients have been scheduled, of which 2 have been suspended for presenting COVID-19, one diagnosed by positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2, and another by laboratory and imaging findings compatible with this infection. With a median follow-up of 10 days (4-14 days), no complications related to covid-19 were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results indicate that the protocol designed to ensure the correct application of preventive measures against the transmission of coronavirus infection is being safe and effective

Urological surgery during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Descriptive analysis of the experience in a Urology Department across the pandemic phases. / Cirugía urológica durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Análisis descriptivo de la experiencia en un Servicio de Urología durante distintas fases epidemiológicas.

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has changed the urological practice around the world. Our objective is to describe the outcomes presented by patients undergoing surgery in the urology department of a tertiary hospital, across the pandemic phases. METHODS: Observational, cohort study including all patients undergoing surgery from March 1 to May 14. According to the hospital organization, we identified three periods: there were no changes during the first two weeks (1st. period), the following seven weeks, when only urgent interventions were carried out after performance of nasopharyngeal swab test (2nd. period), and finally, elective surgery was resumed on May 4, after the implementation of a multidisciplinary screening protocol (3rd. period). Demographic, baseline, surgical and perioperative variables, as well as postoperative outcomes, were obtained in a retrospective (periods 1 and 2) and prospective (period 3) manner. Telephone follow-up was initiated at least 3 weeks after hospital discharge. RESULTS: 103 urological surgeries were performed, and 11 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, 8 of them within the 1st. PERIOD: The diagnosis was already known in 1 patient, while the other 10 developed the disease in an average of 25 days after the intervention and 16,6 days after discharge. Of seven transplant patients, four got the infection. Three deaths were recorded due to the disease: a 69-year-old woman transplanted and two men over 80 with comorbidities and high anesthetic risk who underwent drainage of retroperitoneal abscess and retrograde intrarenal surgery, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection mainly affected renal transplant recipients or elderly patients with high anesthetic risk, during the first 2 weeks of the pandemic. After implementing preoperative PCR tests and a comprehensive screening protocol, cases were substantially reduced, and safe surgical procedures were achieved.

Design of an assistance protocol for the restart of scheduled urologic surgery in a COVID-19 epidemic period. / Diseño de un protocolo asistencial para el reinicio de la cirugía urológica programada en periodo de epidemia COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Design a care protocol to restart scheduled surgical activity in a Urology service of a third level hospital in the Community of Madrid, in a safe way for our patients and professionals in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus epidemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary group reviewed the different recommendations of the literature, national and international health organizations and scientific societies, as well as their application to our environment. Once scheduled surgery has restarted, the patients undergoing surgery for complications related to COVID-19 are being followed up. RESULTS: Since the resumption of surgical activity, 19 patients have been scheduled, of which 2 have been suspended for presenting COVID-19, one diagnosed by positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2, and another by laboratory and imaging findings compatible with this infection. With a median follow-up of 10 days (4-14 days), no complications related to COVID-19 were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results indicate that the protocol designed to ensure the correct application of preventive measures against the transmission of coronavirus infection is being safe and effective.

Recruitment of local excitatory circuits in the superior colliculus following deafferentation and the regeneration of retinocollicular inputs.

The local synaptic connectivity in the superficial gray layer of the superior colliculus (SC) was assessed following retinal ganglion cell axonal regeneration through a peripheral nerve graft into the SC of Lister Hooded rats, using in vitro brain slice techniques. Repair was effected between the ipsilateral eye and SC, following bilateral lesion of optic nerves and ablation of ipsilateral occipital cortex. Deafferentation surgery alone resulted in a complete loss of synaptic potentials of extrinsic origin, once both retinal and cortical inputs were removed. Stimulation of graft insertion sites elicited synaptic responses comprising monosynaptic and network-mediated depolarising events. This activity, together with similar spontaneous bursts of depolarising events and action potential firing, was generated by the activation of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors. This behaviour may reflect the development of a local recurrent synaptic connectivity following the repair surgery, as both evoked and spontaneous responses developed into large long-lasting bursts of excitatory activity when inhibition mediated by GABA receptors was blocked. These results suggest that the ultrastructural changes in the superficial layers of the SC resulting from deafferentation are reflected functionally at the synaptic level in the target structure even after repair. Such changes are likely to compromise the ability of the target structure to function normally during information processing. Therefore, although axons regenerating along peripheral nerve grafts can make functional synaptic connections, their efficacy in activating the target structure will probably be compromised by local changes in synaptic connectivity.