The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak has placed unprecedented challenges globally dismantling healthcare systems and forcing rapid transformations of healthcare services. In patients with cancer, these changes are having profound effects on vital aspects of their care. It has been advised that hospitals discontinue elective surgery and work on triage of nonemergent surgical procedures during the pandemic. The purpose of this article is to highlight the recommendations and adapted workflow from the private and public tertiary level hospitals in India advising on the best practices and views on better patient management, redesigning of SOPs for OR, surgeon, and staff safety and resumption of cancer care especially from surgical perspective. Different concerns are addressed that are necessary to optimize the quality of care provided to COVID-19 patients and to reduce the risk of viral transmission to other patients or healthcare workers.
Keywords: COVID-19; Cancer care; Oncology; SARS-CoV-2; Surgical oncology.
© Indian Association of Surgical Oncology 2020.