As of early July 2020, over 10,000,000 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) cases and 500,000 deaths have been recorded worldwide. This dramatic surge of the pandemic resulted in hospital overcrowding and shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds, creating a global crisis in health care systems. As many other specialties, Urology was impacted at different levels. A decline in number of elective surgeries was observed, with peaks of over 94% reduction in most affected regions. Outpatient clinics were largely shifted to virtual consults. Interestingly, there was a significant decrease in hospital attendance for urological emergencies. Urologic surgical training was negatively impacted.
BJU international. 2020 Jul 13 [Epub ahead of print]
Giuseppe Quarto, Giovanni Grimaldi, Luigi Castaldo, Alessandro Izzo, Raffaele Muscariello, Sonia De Sicato, Dario Franzese, Fabio Crocerossa, Paola Del Prete, Umberto Carbonara, Riccardo Autorino, Sisto Perdonà
Uro-Gynecological Department, Fondazione "G. Pascale" IRCCS, Naples, Italy., Division of Urology, VCU Health, Richmond, VA, USA.