Impact of Covid-19 pandemic for patient care in an Interventional Radiology Unit

Abstract Purpose: Assess the impact of Covid-19 pandemic in work volume in an Interventional Radiology Unit during the “State of Emergency” (16th March - 30th April) in 2020 and to analyse the short-term consequences for oncology patients.Materials and Methods: Single-centre retrospective analysis. The number and type of procedures performed during the “State of Emergency” was compared with the homologous period in 2019. The second analysis compared the impact on disease progression for oncology patients after the “State of Emergency”. All patients that had a scheduled loco-regional treatment (LRT) (74 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); 10 liver metastases) between 2nd May - 16th July 2020 were compared with the homologous period in 2019 (68 HCC; 11 liver metastases). The compared outcome measures included: baseline data, time from diagnostic imaging to LRT, LRT performed as planned, change in LRT.Results: There was a 55.2% reduction of procedures during the “State of Emergency” (n=77 in 2020; n=172 in 2019) with a significant increase in urgent procedures (48.1% in 2020; 33.1% in 2019; p=0.0120). Post-“State of Emergency”, in 2020, HCC patients had higher model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores (p=0.0124) and larger tumours (mean difference of 8.7 mm, p=0.0071). Mean time from diagnostic imaging to LRT increased 14.1 days (p=0.0439). More patients received different or no LRT due to disease progression (15.5% in 2020; 3.8% in 2019; p=0.0061).Conclusion: There was a reduction in interventional oncology treatments during the “State of Emergency” with more patients experiencing disease progression precluding LRTs in the following months.