When to resume bariatric surgery after COVID-19 pandemic?: results of patients' and surgeons' survey.

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus Disease 2019 is affecting most countries around the world, including Poland. In response, all elective surgeries have been postponed. We asked patients and surgeons when they want bariatric surgery to resume after pandemic. The main aim of the study was to determine patients' and surgeons' expectations about when to resume bariatric surgery regarding COVID-19 pandemic state.

METHODS

The study was conducted in two groups: Group 1-bariatric patients; Group 2-bariatric surgeons. Two online surveys were distributed.

RESULTS

A total of 895 patients, 299 before, 596 after surgery and 32 surgeons took part in survey. All patients and surgeons declared willingness to resume bariatric surgeries after pandemic and responded that they should be resumed immediately the World Health Organization announces end of pandemic (42%). The majority of patients before surgery answered that bariatric procedures should be resumed immediately the number of daily incidents begins to decrease (53%). In the patient group, current body mass index (p < 0.001) and contact with COVID+/quarantined persons (p < 0.001) had impact on the response to resumption of bariatric procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients opted to wait for bariatric surgery until the oncological queue has become shorter. Surgeons presented a readiness to resume both procedures in parallel.