COVID-19 and medical practice
Reviewed by Badr Eldin Mostafa

The pandemic has deeply affected all types of medical and surgical practice and even publications. In this issue, the lead article was on the French consensus on ENT practice during the pandemic. In ENT practice, both patients and health workers are at a significant risk. The consensus was to limit to the maximum the number of endoscopies, tracheostomies and endonasal surgery and classify the patients into three tiers: emergencies; oncology cases which cannot withstand a delay of one month without deleterious effects; and tumours which can wait six to eight weeks without affecting their prognosis. Clinical follow-up is preferably postponed and replaced by a phone interview or a teleconsultation and, in the absence of any suggestive symptoms, any face to face examination deferred to a later date. All delayed cases must be enlisted and prioritised to be treated depending on the seriousness of their condition. This approach, universally adapted in many healthcare systems, will result in a huge backup of cases which will need to be treated immediately on the resumption of normal activities. This will create another crackdown on the systems which might not have enough time to recover from the crisis. Some patients who never had a chance to be examined might have serious problems, which were underestimated and might have already lost precious time. The full burden of the pandemic on healthcare systems and personnel will last for a very long time.

Consensus français sur la pratique de la chirurgie oncologique ORL pendant la pandémie de COVID-19.
Fakhry N, Schultz P, Morinière S, et al.
Ann Franc d’Oto-Rhino Laryngol Path Cevic-Fac.
2020;137[3]:159-60.