| Abstrakt: |
Aims: The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc worldwide. Not only has it severely impacted the way of life, but also damaged global economies and worsened social disparities, including those in healthcare. The pandemic, having imposed an enormous burden on global healthcare infrastructure, has led to drastic changes in medical and surgical practices, including those of laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery. This study aimed to explore the practice of laparoscopic surgeons during the COVID-19 era in Pakistan. Materials and methods: Surgeons involved in laparoscopic surgery (LS) were approached via e-mail practicing in different surgical setups and cities of Pakistan. After taking Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and informed consent a questionnaire was filled out by all participating laparoscopic surgeons. The data was then analyzed in SPSS version 26. Results: A total of 168 surgeons involved in LS from different disciplines responded to the invitation and filled out the online questionnaire. The mean age of the surgeons was 48.72 ± 8.04 years and most of them were married and the majority belonged to the major cities of the country, i.e., Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. Surgeons who participated had a mean practice experience of 12.12 ± 6.88 years (minimum 3 and maximum 31 years). Most of the respondents were General Surgeons (GS), followed by minimal invasive surgeons (MIS) having advanced training in laparoscopy, Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OB-GYN), and Urologists. Conclusion: The LS practice in Pakistan during the COVID-19 era is widely variable. There is a dire need to formulate apt local guidelines, that are practical and implementable in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
