Impact of COVID-19 on endourology surgical practice in Saudi Arabia: A national multicenter study

doi:10.1016/j.ajur.2021.03.006

Asian Journal of Urology, 2021, 8 (4): 416-423 doi: 10.1016/j.ajur.2021.03.006

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Impact of COVID-19 on endourology surgical practice in Saudi Arabia: A national multicenter study

Abdel Raheem Ali^a,b,*(

),Yahya Ghazwani^c,Ibrahim Alowidah^a,Raed A. Azhar^d,Mohammed Alomar^e,Ahmed Alzahrani^f,Ossamah Alsowayan^g,Wissam Kamal^h,Abdulrahman Alalayet^a,Ahmad Bugis^d,Abdulaziz M. Althunayan^e,M. Alzahrani Tarek^f,Kamel Fadaak^g,Aiman Al-Solumany^h,Saeed Bin Hamri^c

^a Urology Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
^b Urology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
^c Devision of Urology, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science, Division of Urology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
^d Urology Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
^e Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University and King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
^f Urology Department, Price Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
^g Urology Department, King Fahd Hospital, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
^h Urology Department, King Fahd Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract
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Abstract

Objective: To identify the impact of COVID-19 on endourology surgical practice in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A retrospective study of seven tertiary hospitals from January 2019 to April 2019, and from January 2020 to April 2020 was performed. Records of urology outpatient department (OPD) visits and endourology procedures in the first third of 2020 were analyzed and compared with those in the first third of 2019, as well as, during the full curfew time, i.e. April 2020 versus April 2019.
Results: Number of OPD visits in the first third of 2020 and 2019 were 19 499 and 26 594, respectively (p<0.001). Number of OPD visits in April 2020 was 1512, with a 78.6% decrease compared to that in April 2019, and among them 1373 (90.8%) were teleclinics. Number of elective procedures in the first third of 2020 has decreased by 34.3% (from 3025 to 1988) compared to that in the first third of 2019 (p<0.001). There were 120 elective procedures in April 2020, 84.1% lower than that in April 2019. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, shockwave lithotripsy, and transurethral resection of prostate procedures declined by 94.2%, 98.5%, and 93.8%, respectively. Most procedures were performed as day surgery (85.0%). Number of emergency procedures in 2020 have fallen by 9.3% compared to 2019 (p=0.286). Urolithiasis was the commonest pathology (52.6%) presented to the emergency room (52.6%).
Conclusion: During COVID-19 pandemic, urology services slashed by >75%, including OPD visits and elective endourology procedures. Most hospitals have changed their strategic preventive measures by increasing the rate of teleclinics and day surgeries.

Key words： COVID-19 Endourology Saudi Arabia

Received: 11 June 2020 Available online: 20 October 2021

Corresponding Authors: Abdel Raheem Ali E-mail: aliraheem82@yahoo.com;a-hassan@ksmc.med.sa

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	Abdel Raheem Ali
	Yahya Ghazwani
	Ibrahim Alowidah
	Raed A. Azhar
	Mohammed Alomar
	Ahmed Alzahrani
	Ossamah Alsowayan
	Wissam Kamal
	Abdulrahman Alalayet
	Ahmad Bugis
	Abdulaziz M. Althunayan
	M. Alzahrani Tarek
	Kamel Fadaak
	Aiman Al-Solumany
	Saeed Bin Hamri

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Cite this article:

Abdel Raheem Ali,Yahya Ghazwani,Ibrahim Alowidah, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on endourology surgical practice in Saudi Arabia: A national multicenter study[J]. Asian Journal of Urology, 2021, 8(4): 416-423.

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http://www.ajurology.com/EN/10.1016/j.ajur.2021.03.006 OR http://www.ajurology.com/EN/Y2021/V8/I4/416

The difference of the OPD visit and endourology work volume performed in first third of the year of 2019 and 2020.

The total number of OPD visits in the first third of 2019 and 2020 (A), and the percent of types of OPD visits in April 2020 (B). OPD, outpatient department.

The absolute and percentage (%) change of the OPD visits and endourology work volume performed in first third of the year of 2019 and 2020.

The number of elective (A) and emergency (B) endourology surgical procedures in the first third of 2019 and 2020.

The absolute and percentage (%) change between the type of endourology surgical procedures performed in first third of the year of 2019 and 2020.

The statistical results of endourology surgical procedures. (A) The number of the types of elective endourology surgical procedures; (B) The percent of the types of emergency endourology surgical procedures. PCNL, percutaneous nephrolithotomy; URS/RIRS, ureteroscopy and retrograde intrarenal surgery; ESWL, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy; TURP, transurethral resection of prostate; TURBT, transurethral resection of bladder tumor; BOO, bladder outlet obstruction.

Peak of COVID-19 infection in KSA during May, June and July (Coronavirus update (live). Last updated: July 14, 2020, 18:39 GMT. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/saudi-arabia/) [accessed on 23/06/2020] [23].

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