Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33309261›Full record

ArticleThe surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland2021

Variations in colorectal cancer surgery practice across the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic - 'Every land has its own law'.

Hannah Byrne, Aastha Chawla, Ganga Gurung, Gemma Hughes, Milind Rao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Hannah ByrneDepartment of General Surgery, United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust, Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, UK.
Aastha ChawlaDepartment of General Surgery, United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust, Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, UK.
Ganga GurungDepartment of General Surgery, United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust, Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, UK.
Gemma HughesDepartment of General Surgery, United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust, Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, UK.
Milind RaoDepartment of General Surgery, United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust, Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, UK. Electronic address: Milind.Rao@ULH.nhs.uk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn March 2020 NHS England issued guidelines recognizing the elective component of cancer surgeries may be 'curtailed', due to staffing and supply shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it suggested, 'local solutions' should be sought in order to protect the delivery of cancer services. We aimed to compare surgeons' practice for the provision of colorectal (CR) cancer surgery across the United Kingdom (UK), against updated Joint Royal Colleges & ACPGBI guidelines and highlight differences in practice, if any.

methodAn online survey was conducted. It examined surgical practice across the UK against current protocols for CR cancer surgeries, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

results29 individual responses were received from 23 NHS Trusts across the UK. 23/29 (79%) surgeons ceased or experienced delays in their CR cancer surgeries during the pandemic, with 3/29 (10%) yet to reintroduce these services. 19/26 (73%) surgeons instructed their patients to self-isolate prior to surgery, of which 5/19 (26%) correctly enforced a duration of 14 days. 10/19 (53%) participants adhered to guidelines of performing a CT chest within 24 h of surgery. 10/26 (38%) participants believe their patients are experiencing longer hospital admissions in the COVID-19 setting.

conclusionThis snap shot survey highlights the dramatic variations in CR cancer surgery practice within the UK and inconsistent adherence to protocols. Guidelines will no doubt change as our knowledge of COVID-19 increases both nationally and internationally. It is essential CR surgeons keep up to date with changes in guidance, so uniformity in practice can be maintained.

Indexed as

Colorectal NeoplasmsCOVID-19Digestive System Surgical ProceduresElective Surgical ProceduresGuideline AdherenceHumansPatient SelectionPractice Guidelines as TopicPractice Patterns, Physicians'Surveys and QuestionnairesUnited KingdomColorectal cancerColorectal surgeryCovid-19Covid-19 screening

Identifiers

PMID33309261
PMCPMC7724990

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.