Analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the organization of liver transplantation

Abstract

The Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing severe acute respiratory syndrome, is the source of the global pandemic known as Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). The comorbidities, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders such hypertension, kidney disease, lung disease, and age, affect COVID-19 effects severity (1-3). This new disease has changed surgery practice in most countries around the world. (4) In order to maintain social distance, surgery departments may take a variety of steps, such as canceling face-to-face outpatient and nonurgent appointments, screening scheduled clinic visits, conducting telephone consultations with patients who have nonurgent conditions, and rescheduling appointments for a few months. (5) The focus of this work is to analyze the activity of the Department of liver transplant surgery in “A.O.R.N. Antonio Cardarelli" of Naples (Italy) was analyzed. In particular, the data-set obtained in the year 2019 (pre-pandemic) was compared with that in the following year 2020 (pandemic). The data refers to patients undergoing liver transplantation.