Safety of Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Comparison to the Pre-Pandemic Era.

Amarouche M
Rashid S
Borg A
Halliday J
Warner OJ
Cudlip SA

Scientific Abstract

 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to the surgical care of patients with pituitary tumors. Guidance issued early during the pandemic suggested avoiding transnasal approaches to minimize risks of transmitting COVID-19 to health care professionals involved in these procedures.  This observational, single-center study compares results of endoscopic transsphenoidal approach (TSA) for pituitary tumors since the start of the pandemic to a pre-pandemic period. Anesthetic time, surgical time, and complication rates were compared. Newly acquired COVID-19 infections and transmission rates to patients and staff were reviewed. Data were analyzed by using the independent -test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson Chi-square test, significance set at <0.05.  Over a 12-month period, a total of 50 and 69 patients underwent endoscopic TSA for pituitary tumor during and before the pandemic, respectively. All patients tested negative for COVID-19 preoperatively. Median duration of anesthesia was 35 minutes (interquartile range [IQR]: 22) during the pandemic and 25 minutes (IQR: 8,  = 0.0002) pre-pandemic. Median duration of surgery was 70 minutes (IQR: 28) during the pandemic and 79 minutes (IQR: 33.75,  = 0.126) pre-pandemic. There were no statistically significant differences between intraoperative CSF leaks and complication rates. No staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Three patients tested positive for COVID-19 postdischarge, but the infections were community acquired.  In contrast to published guidelines, adequate preoperative testing, a multidisciplinary approach and the implementation of standardized protocols and vaccination against COVID-19 allow for endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery to be performed safely in patients with pituitary pathology during the pandemic.

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Yaakub SN, Eraifej J, Bault N, Lojkiewiez M, Bellec E, Roberts JD, Philip NS, Divanbeighi Zand AP, Green AL, Rushworth MF, Fouragnan EF

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Safety of Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Comparison to the Pre-Pandemic Era.

Amarouche M
Rashid S
Borg A
Halliday J
Warner OJ
Cudlip SA

Scientific Abstract

 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to the surgical care of patients with pituitary tumors. Guidance issued early during the pandemic suggested avoiding transnasal approaches to minimize risks of transmitting COVID-19 to health care professionals involved in these procedures.  This observational, single-center study compares results of endoscopic transsphenoidal approach (TSA) for pituitary tumors since the start of the pandemic to a pre-pandemic period. Anesthetic time, surgical time, and complication rates were compared. Newly acquired COVID-19 infections and transmission rates to patients and staff were reviewed. Data were analyzed by using the independent -test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson Chi-square test, significance set at <0.05.  Over a 12-month period, a total of 50 and 69 patients underwent endoscopic TSA for pituitary tumor during and before the pandemic, respectively. All patients tested negative for COVID-19 preoperatively. Median duration of anesthesia was 35 minutes (interquartile range [IQR]: 22) during the pandemic and 25 minutes (IQR: 8,  = 0.0002) pre-pandemic. Median duration of surgery was 70 minutes (IQR: 28) during the pandemic and 79 minutes (IQR: 33.75,  = 0.126) pre-pandemic. There were no statistically significant differences between intraoperative CSF leaks and complication rates. No staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Three patients tested positive for COVID-19 postdischarge, but the infections were community acquired.  In contrast to published guidelines, adequate preoperative testing, a multidisciplinary approach and the implementation of standardized protocols and vaccination against COVID-19 allow for endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery to be performed safely in patients with pituitary pathology during the pandemic.

Citation

2022. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base, 83(Suppl 2)e419-e429.

DOI

10.1055/s-0041-1730352

Free Full Text at Europe PMC

PMC9272276

Similar content

Preprint
Yaakub SN, Eraifej J, Bault N, Lojkiewiez M, Bellec E, Roberts JD, Philip NS, Divanbeighi Zand AP, Green AL, Rushworth MF, Fouragnan EF

Non-invasive Ultrasonic Neuromodulation of the Human Nucleus Accumbens Impacts Reward Sensitivity