@article{2987434,
    title = "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Bariatric Surgery: Results from a Worldwide Survey",
    author = "Lazaridis, I.I. and Kraljević, M. and Schneider, R. and Klasen, J.M. and Schizas, D. and Peterli, R. and Kow, L. and Delko, T. and Noel, P. and Singhal, R. and Girodet, M. and Soprani, A. and Brehant, O. and Moszkowicz, D. and Coueffe, X. and Lanne, J.S. and Rosenblum, I. and Moldovanu, R. and Pflieger, H. and Kuperas, C. and Martinez Duartez, P. and Luyer, M.D.P. and Arnalsteen, L. and Hazebroek, E.J. and Sykora, M. and Kennedy, C. and Hauswirth, F. and Tchanderli-Braham, R. and Le Page, S. and Boerma, E.-J.G. and Chousleb, E. and Langenhoff, B. and ElFawal, M.H. and Paolino, L. and Martini, F. and Johanet, H. and Barthes, T. and Halabi, M. and Del Prete, M. and Fiolo, F.E. and Blanchard, C. and Bashir, A. and Hagen, M. and Techagumpuch, A. and Dan, S. and Catheline, J.-M. and Georgeac, C. and Lefter, L.P. and Lechaux, D. and Widmer, J. and Kaijser, M.A. and Orlowski, M. and François, P. and Rogers, A.M. and Nitu, V. and Servajean, S. and Fishman, M. and Ignat, D.M. and Molasoko, J.M. and Takkenberg, M. and Amal, E. and Charara, M. and Parmar, C. and Brévart, C. and Warberg, E.A. and Marx, L. and Vix, M. and for the Collaborators",
    journal = "Obesity Surgery",
    year = "2020",
    volume = "30",
    number = "11",
    pages = "4428-4436",
    publisher = "Springer-Verlag",
    issn = "0960-8923, 1708-0428",
    doi = "10.1007/s11695-020-04830-8",
    keywords = "acute appendicitis;  acute cholecystitis;  adult;  Article;  bariatric surgery;  clinical practice;  conservative treatment;  coronavirus disease 2019;  female;  follow up;  gastrointestinal endoscopy;  health care survey;  health care system;  human;  intensive care unit;  Internet;  laparoscopy;  major clinical study;  male;  morbid obesity;  occupational safety;  online analysis;  outpatient department;  pandemic;  preoperative evaluation;  priority journal;  surge capacity;  surgeon;  videorecording;  bariatric surgery;  Betacoronavirus;  Coronavirus infection;  elective surgery;  middle aged;  pandemic;  questionnaire;  virus pneumonia, Adult;  Bariatric Surgery;  Betacoronavirus;  Coronavirus Infections;  Elective Surgical Procedures;  Female;  Humans;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Obesity, Morbid;  Pandemics;  Pneumonia, Viral;  Practice Patterns, Physicians';  Surveys and Questionnaires",
    abstract = "Background: The ongoing “coronavirus disease 19” (COVID-19) pandemic has had a strong effect on the delivery of surgical care worldwide. Elective surgeries have been canceled or delayed in order to reallocate resources to the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Currently, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bariatric and metabolic surgical practice remains unclear. Methods: An internet-based online survey was performed among bariatric surgeons worldwide. The survey was sent to bariatric surgeons via the International Bariatric Club Facebook group and by electronic mail via the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and metabolic disorders (IFSO) secretariat to members of the associated national IFSO societies. Results: One hundred sixty-nine (n = 169) bariatric surgeons participated in the survey. The majority of the respondents postponed preoperative upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopies, appointments in the outpatient clinic and bariatric operations. Most surgeons performed video calls for follow-up appointments instead of meeting the patients in the outpatient clinics. Laparoscopy was still the preferred treatment for surgical emergencies, but a trend towards conservative treatment of acute appendicitis and acute cholecystitis was shown. Rapid preoperative COVID-19 testing availability was poor; therefore, routine screening of emergency bariatric cases was not widely provided. A wide variance occurred regarding precautions and personal protection equipment among the participants. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic showed a strong impact on bariatric surgical practice regarding surgical and outpatient planning as well as personnel management. Coordinated effort from the national bariatric societies should focus on strict implementation of the current recommendations regarding precaution measures and personal protection equipment. Further studies should evaluate how this impact will evolve in the near future. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature."
}