Influence of the COVID‑19 pandemic on the timing of surgical triage, tumor stage, and therapy of patients with colon carcinoma

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

Purpose addresses how COVID-19 restrictions in Germany reduced medical access and colonoscopy screening after March 2020. Because rapid surgical triage after diagnosis is prognostic, the study tests whether pandemic-related delays increased advanced colon cancer proportions and produced a sicker patient population. Methods analyze 204 retrospective cases with pre-COVID (111) versus during-COVID (93) periods. Results show more emergency surgeries and complications, including ileus, perforation, and discontinuity resections. Conclusion links delayed care to time between endoscopic diagnosis and triage/surgery, while emphasizing structured screening and tighter schedules.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Methods

International Journal of Colorectal Disease (2023) 38:150 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-023-04430-9](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-023-04430-9) Influence of the COVID‑19 pandemic on the timing of surgical triage, tumor stage, and therapy of patients with colon carcinoma Fiona Speichinger1 · Ann‑Kathrin Berg1 · Ani Stoyanova1 · Ioannis Pozios1 · Florian Loch1 · Johannes C. Lauscher1 · Katharina Beyer1 · Nadia Slavova1 · Christian Schineis1 Accepted: 9 May 2023 © The Author(s) 2023 Abstract Purpose With the onset of the COVID pandemic in Germany in March 2020, far-reaching restrictions were imposed that limited medical access for patients. Screening examinations such as colonoscopies were greatly reduced in number. As rapid surgical triage after diagnosis is prognostic, our hypothesis was that pandemic-related delays would increase the proportion of advanced colon cancers with an overall sicker patient population. Methods A total of 204 patients with initial diagnosis of colon cancer were analyzed in this retrospective single-center study between 03/01/2018 and 03/01/2022. Control group (111 patients, pre-COVID-19) and the study group (93 patients, during COVID-19) were compared in terms of tumor stages, surgical therapy, complications, and delays in the clinical setting. The data were presented either as absolute numbers or as median for constant data. Results A trend towards more advanced tumor stages (T4a p = 0.067) and a significant increase of emergency surgeries (p = 0.016) with higher rates of ileus and perforation (p = 0.004) as well as discontinuity resections (p = 0.049) during the pandemic could be observed. Delays in surgical triage after endoscopic diagnosis were seen during the 2nd lockdown (02/11/20–26/12/20; p = 0.031) . Conclusion In summary, the results suggest delayed treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the infection pattern of COVID appearing to have a major impact on the time between endoscopic diagnosis and surgical triage/surgery. Adequate care of colon cancer patients is possible even during a pandemic, but it is important to focus on structured screening and tight diagnosis to treatment schedules in order to prevent secondary pandemic victims. Keywords COVID-19 pandemic · SARS-CoV-2 · Colon carcinoma · Endoscopy · Surgical triage * Fiona Speichinger [fiona.speichinger@charite.de](fiona.speichinger@charite.de)[ ](fiona.speichinger@charite.de)[Ann-Kathrin Berg](Ann-Kathrin Berg)[ ](Ann-Kathrin Berg)[ann-kathrin.berg@charite.de](ann-kathrin.berg@charite.de)[ ](ann-kathrin.berg@charite.de)Ani Stoyanova [ani.stoyanova@charite.de](ani.stoyanova@charite.de)[ ](ani.stoyanova@charite.de)Ioannis Pozios [ioannis.pozios@charite.de](ioannis.pozios@charite.de)[ ](ioannis.pozios@charite.de)Florian Loch [florian.loch@charite.de](florian.loch@charite.de) [Johannes C. Lauscher](Johannes C. Lauscher) [johannes.lauscher@charite.de](johannes.lauscher@charite.de) 1 Katharina Beyer [katharina.beyer2@charite.de](katharina.beyer2@charite.de)[ ](katharina.beyer2@charite.de)Nadia Slavova [nadia.slavova@charite.de](nadia.slavova@charite.de) Christian Schineis [christian.schineis@charite.de](christian.schineis@charite.de) Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany 1 3 Introduction In the beginning of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic due to the rapid worldwide spread of a new virus: SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) [1 , 2] . In Germany, the pandemic led to far-reaching restrictions, including several complete lockdown periods between March 2020 and May 2021. It has already been shown that there were restrictions on access to medical care during the pandemic. The number of referrals with subsequent timely physician consultations and surgeries decreased [3 , 4] . Screenings for a wide variety of cancers declined during the pandemic [5, 6] . This is of enormous importance, espec

FAQs

What conclusion and recommendations were drawn for managing colon cancer in pandemics?

Delayed treatment during COVID-19 appeared to be influenced by the time between endoscopic diagnosis and surgical triage/surgery. The document concludes that adequate colon cancer care remains possible, but structured screening and tight diagnosis-to-treatment scheduling are essential to prevent secondary pandemic harm.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret