Perspectives of Gynecologic Oncologists on Minimally Invasive Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Turkish Society of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Oncology (MIJOD) Survey

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Department of Gynecology, Akdeniz University Hospital, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.

2 Department of Gynecology, Koc University Hospital, 34010, Zeytinburnu/Istanbul, Turkey.

3 Department of Gynecology, Ankara University Hospital, 06100, Mamak/ Ankara, Turkey.

4 Department of Gynecology, Baskent University Adana Hospital, 01250, Yuregir/Adana, Turkey.

5 Department of Gynecology, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, 34457, Maslak/Istanbul, Turkey.

Abstract

Background: To evaluate gynecologic oncologists’ trends and attitudes towards the use of Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in active period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Methods: Online national survey sent to members of Turkish Endoscopy Platform consisting of six sections and 45 questions between the dates 1-15 June 2020 in Turkey to explore their surgical practice during the pandemic in three hospital types: Education and research hospital/university hospital, state hospital and private Hospital. Participants were gynecologic oncologists who are members of Turkish Endoscopy Platform. Results: Fifty-eight percent of participants canceled all operations except for cancer surgeries and emergent operations. About a quarter of participants (28%) continued to operate laparoscopically and/or robotically. For the evaluation of the suspected adnexial mass (SAM) 64% used laparotomy and only 13 % operated by laparoscopy (L/S). For the management of low-risk early-stage endometrial cancer only fifth of the participants preferred to perform L/S. For endometrial cancer with high-intermediate risk factors more than half of participants preferred complete staging with laparotomy. For advanced stage ovarian cancer, one-fifth of the participants preferred to perform an explorative laparotomy, whilst 15 % preferred diagnostic laparoscopy to triage the patients for either NACT or cytoreductive surgery. On the contrary 41 % of participants chose to have cytology by paracentesis for neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Gynecologic oncologists with >10 years L/S experience used MIS more for SAM. Furthermore, experienced surgeons used L/S more for endometrial cancer patients. In busy COVID hospitals, more participants preferred laparotomy over L/S. Conclusion: Use of MIS decreased during the pandemic in Turkey. More experienced surgeons continued to perform MIS. Surgical treatment was the preferred approach for SAM, early-stage endometrial cancer.  However, NACT was more popular compared to radical surgery.

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Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Volume 23, Issue 2
February 2022
Pages 573-581

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 October 2021
  • Revise Date: 05 January 2022
  • Accept Date: 15 February 2022

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