Pituitary Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Mail Code CH8N, 3303 South Bond Ave, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
Pituitary. 2020 Aug;23(4):327-337. doi: 10.1007/s11102-020-01059-7.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the viral strain that has caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has presented healthcare systems around the world with an unprecedented challenge. In locations with significant rates of viral transmission, social distancing measures and enforced 'lockdowns' are the new 'norm' as governments try to prevent healthcare services from being overwhelmed. However, with these measures have come important challenges for the delivery of existing services for other diseases and conditions. The clinical care of patients with pituitary disorders typically involves a multidisciplinary team, working in concert to deliver timely, often complex, disease investigation and management, including pituitary surgery. COVID-19 has brought about major disruption to such services, limiting access to care and opportunities for testing (both laboratory and radiological), and dramatically reducing the ability to safely undertake transsphenoidal surgery. In the absence of clinical trials to guide management of patients with pituitary disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, herein the Professional Education Committee of the Pituitary Society proposes guidance for continued safe management and care of this population.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）是导致 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行的病毒株，它给全球的医疗保健系统带来了前所未有的挑战。在病毒传播率较高的地区，社交距离措施和强制“封锁”已成为新常态，各国政府试图防止医疗服务系统不堪重负。然而，这些措施给其他疾病和病症的现有服务的提供带来了重要挑战。垂体疾病患者的临床护理通常需要多学科团队协作，及时进行复杂的疾病调查和管理，包括垂体手术。COVID-19 对这些服务造成了重大干扰，限制了获得护理和检测（包括实验室和放射学检测）的机会，并极大地降低了安全进行经蝶窦手术的能力。在没有临床试验来指导 COVID-19 大流行期间垂体疾病患者的管理的情况下，垂体学会专业教育委员会在此提出了继续安全管理和照顾这一人群的指南。
