Concept
Surgical Considerations based on Cancer and Patient Characteristics
- While surgery is now very high risk, it is entirely necessary for patients with colon or rectal cancer
- All less invasive treatment options should be utilized before surgery due to new allocation of resources for hospitals as well as possible modes of infection
- All non emergency colon surgeries should be delayed for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks as they may have a negative impact overall
- Any colon cancer that came from polyps that may require surgery should be deferred as it is extremely early stage
- Stage 1 rectal cancer should undergo surgery with approximately a 6 to 8 week delay as radiation therapy is largely ineffective on this cancer type
- Stage 2 or 3 rectal cancer should be treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation with short course treatment and surgery or with long course chemotherapy
- Stage 4 or metastatic colorectal cancer should be treated with neoadjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy as well as expedited surgeries
- Active COVID-19 prior to treatment is indicative of poorer patient outcomes and higher mortality
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Updated 2021-01-08
Tags
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
Biomedical Sciences