Proper planning of thyroid surgery in covid-19 pandemic: a single center experience

Objective: The Covid-19 outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus affected the whole world. This study aims to present the data of our patients who were operated on for various thyroid diseases as of March 11, when the Covid-19 case was first seen in Turkey. Material and Methods: Patients who undergoing thyroid surgery between 11.03.2020 and 31.12.2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The data were compared with those of patients who underwent thyroid surgery during the same period last year (DSPLY). Results: A total of 47 patients were included. A total of 79 patients were operated on in DSPLY and there was a 40.5% reduction. Thirty-three (70.2%) of the patients were operated for differentiated thyroid cancer. Last year, this rate was 41.8%, and the proportional difference between them is significant (p = 0.003). Covid-19 positivity developed on in only 1 (2.1%) of 47 patients who were operated during the Covid-19 period. Conclusions: Guidelines published at the beginning of the pandemic suggest postponing surgeries other than emergency conditions as a temporary solution. Therefore, in the fight against the pandemic in the future, non-pandemic hospitals should be predetermined.