Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2020 Mar 30. doi: 10.23736/S0393-2249.20.03861-8. [Epub ahead of print]
Pathways for urology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simonato A1,2, Giannarini G3, Abrate A1, Bartoletti R4, Crestani A5, De Nunzio C6, Gregori A7, Liguori G8, Novara G9, Pavan N8, Trombetta C8, Tubaro A6, Porpiglia F10, Ficarra V11; Members of the Research Urology Network (RUN).
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Abstract
The public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a significant reallocation of health resources with a consequent reorganization of the clinical activities also in several urological centers. A panel of Italian urologists has agreed on a set of recommendations on pathways of pre-, intra- and post-operative care for urological patients undergoing urgent procedures or non-deferrable oncological interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Simplification of the diagnostic and staging pathway has to be prioritized in order to reduce hospital visits and consequently the risk of contagion. In absence of strict uniform regulations that impose the implementation of nasopharyngeal swabs, we recommend that an accurate triage for possible COVID-19 symptoms be performed both by telephone at home before hospitalization and at the time of hospitalization. We recommend that during hospital stay patients should be provided with as many instructions as possible to facilitate their return to, and stay at, home. Patients should be discharged under stable good conditions in order to minimize the risk of readmission. It is advisable to reduce or reschedule post-discharge controls and implement an adequate system of communication for telemonitoring discharged patients in order to reduce hospital visits.
PMID:32225135DOI:10.23736/S0393-2249.20.03861-8