Original Article   

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences 2022 Apr 13

DOI: 10.23736/S0390-5616.22.05733-2

Copyright © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Lessons learned during covid-19 pandemic, a worldwide survey: evolution of global neurosurgical practice

Harsh DEORA ¹, Amol RAHEJA², Shashwat MISHRA ², Vivek TANDON ², Edoardo AGOSTI ³, Pierlorenzo VEICESCHI ^{4, 5}, Kanwaljeet GARG ² ✉, Vikas NAIK ⁶, Shweta KEDIA ², Rajesh MEENA ², Satya S. MUNJAL ⁷, Bipin CHAURASIA ⁸, Jack WELLINGTON ⁹, Davide LOCATELLI ^{5, 10, 11}, Marco M. FONTANELLA³, Manmohan SINGH ², PS CHANDRA ², Shashank S. KALE ², Kenan ARNAUTOVIC ^{12, 13}

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India; ² Department of Neurosurgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India; ³ Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; ⁴ Scuola di Specializzazione in Neurochirurgia, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; ⁵ Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy; ⁶ Department of Neurosurgery, Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore, India; ⁷ Department of Neurosurgery, ABVIMS and Dr RML hospital, New Delhi, India; ⁸ Consultant, Birgunj Hospital, Dhaka, Nepal; ⁹ Cardiff University school of medicine, Cardiff university, Cardiff, UK; ¹⁰ Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy;11 Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Head and Neck Surgery and Forensic Dissection Research Center (HNS&FDRc), University of Insubria, Varese, Italy; ¹² Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA; ¹³ Semmes Murphey Neurologic & Spine Institute, Memphis,TN, USA

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a multitude of surveys have analyzed the impact virus spreading on the everyday medical practice, including neurosurgery. However, none have examined the perceptions of neurosurgeons towards the pandemic, their life changes, and the strategies they implemented to be able to deal with their patients in such a difficult time.
METHODS: From April 2021 to May 2021 a modified Delphi method was used to construct, pilot, and refine the questionnaire focused on the evolution of global neurosurgical practice during the pandemic. This survey was distributed among 1000 neurosurgeons; the responses were then collected and critically analyzed.
RESULTS: Outpatient department practices changed with a rapid rise in teleservices. 63.9% of respondents reported that they have changed their OT practices to emergency cases with occasional elective cases. 40.0% of respondents and 47.9% of their family members reported to have suffered from COVID-19. 56.2% of the respondents reported having felt depressed in the last 1 year. 40.9% of respondents reported having faced financial difficulties. 80.6% of the respondents found online webinars to be a good source of learning. 47.8% of respondents tried to improve their neurosurgical knowledge while 31.6% spent the extra time in research activities.
CONLCUSIONS: Progressive increase in operative waiting lists, preferential use of telemedicine, reduction in tendency to complete stoppage of physical clinic services and drop in the use of PPE kits were evident. Respondents’ age had an impact on how the clinical services and operative practices have evolved. Financial concerns overshadow mental health.

KEY WORDS: COVID-19; SARS-CoV2; Pandemic; Neurosurgery