Τίτλος:
Variation in volumes and characteristics of ENT emergency visits during
COVID-19 pandemic. Where are the patients?
Γλώσσες Τεκμηρίου:
Αγγλικά
Περίληψη:
The aim of this study is to analyze patterns and volumes of patients
visiting ENT emergency departments during periods of community lockdowns
given the newness of this situation and to assess the variation in
numbers of visits and examine whether their reduction equally affects
all categories of visit causation or whether it is limited to diseases
not considered as emergencies. A retrospective descriptive study was
conducted on prospectively collected registry data on patients of all
age groups visited the emergency ENT department during the period of
nationwide lockdown. Patients were grouped in 9 categories, according to
the cause of visit the ENT emergency department. A total of 201 patients
visited the ENT emergency department. The retrospective analysis of the
data during the same period in the years 2013-2019 showed a reduction of
73% in total visits (mean total visits number between 2013 and 2019 was
745.29 +/- 20.0143). A statistically significant reduction in visitation
was found in all categories studied with the exception of foreign body
ingestion - aspiration. Patients with General ENT symptoms, mild
epistaxis cases, otology cases, vertigo cases, uncomplicated infectious
cases showed a statistically significant reduction in numbers and were
treated empirically. Swallowing foreign body cases did not show
statistically significant reduction. Limitation of movement and the
lockdown itself, led to reduction of trauma cases. Surprisingly, there
was also a reduction in oncology cases and an increase in numbers of
these cases can be expected in the near future. (C) 2021 Sociedad
Espanola de Otorrinolaringologia y Cirugia de Cabeza y Cuello. Published
by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.
Συγγραφείς:
Sapountzi, Marilia
Sideris, Giorgos
Boumpa, Eleni and
Papadimitriou, Nikolaos
Nikolopoulos, Thomas
Delides, Alexander
Περιοδικό:
ACTA OTORRINOLARINGOLOGICA ESPANOLA
Εκδότης:
ELSEVIER ESPANA SLU
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Otolaryngology; Emergency medicine; ENT
DOI:
10.1016/j.otorri.2020.11.010
