Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, S. Elia-Raimondi Hospital, Caltanissetta, Italy.
Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
Dig Liver Dis. 2020 Aug;52(8):808-815. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2020.05.017. Epub 2020 May 16.
In Italy, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the entire healthcare system and required a huge re-organization of many Divisions, including those of Gastroenterology.
to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Gastroenterology Divisions across Italy.
All members of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE) were invited to answer a web-based survey.
Data of 121 hospitals from all 20 Italian regions were analyzed. Overall, 10.7% Gastroenterology Divisions have been converted to Covid Units. Outpatients consultations, endoscopic and ultrasound procedures were limited to urgencies and oncology indications in 85.1%, 96.2% and 72.2% of Units, respectively, and 46.7% of them suspended the screening for colorectal cancer. Moreover, 72.2% of the staff received a training for use of personal protective equipment, although 45.5% did not have sufficient devices for adequate replacement. Overall, 132 healthcare workers in 41 Gastroenterology Divisions were found to be infected.
This is the first study to evaluate, at a country level, the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on Gastroenterology Divisions. Substantial changes of practice and reduction of procedures have been recorded in the entire country. The long-term impact of such modifications is difficult to estimate but potentially very risky for many digestive diseases.
在意大利，COVID-19 疫情的蔓延使整个医疗体系承受压力，需要对包括消化内科在内的许多科室进行大规模重组。
评估 COVID-19 疫情对意大利各地消化内科的影响。
邀请意大利胃肠病学会（SIGE）的所有成员回答一个基于网络的调查。
对来自意大利 20 个地区的 121 家医院的数据进行了分析。总体而言，10.7%的消化内科已转为新冠病房。85.1%、96.2%和 72.2%的科室分别将门诊咨询、内镜和超声检查限于紧急情况和肿瘤适应证，分别有 46.7%和 46.7%的科室暂停了结直肠癌的筛查。此外，72.2%的工作人员接受了个人防护设备使用的培训，尽管 45.5%的科室没有足够的设备进行适当的更换。共有 41 个消化内科的 132 名医护人员被发现感染。
这是第一项在全国范围内评估 COVID-19 疫情对消化内科影响的研究。全国各地的实践发生了重大变化，操作流程减少。这种改变的长期影响难以估计，但对许多消化道疾病可能存在很大风险。
