IMPACTO DA PANDEMIA DA COVID-19 NO NÚMERO DE COLECISTECTOMIAS REALIZADAS NA PARAÍBA

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 triggered a pandemic starting with the identification of a new variant, SARS-CoV-2, in China. In less than two years, 10,000 fatalities linked directly to the virus have occurred in the state of Paraíba. The public health emergency alert declared all over Brazil has caused significant modifications in the services provided by clinics and hospitals nationwide. In this scenario, surgery was among the crucial areas that required significant adjustments to ensure continued service delivery. This study examines the effects of the pandemic on the quantity of open and laparoscopic cholecystectomies conducted in Paraíba during the first two years of the pandemic. The study compared the number of procedures performed in the years before the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak with the number of surgeries performed during the pandemic using data from SUS databases. The analysis revealed a 17% decrease in the overall number of yearly operations in the state. This finding indicates a decrease consistent with similar studies involving diverse demographics. It also presents a perspective that may inspire actions in the coming years to mitigate the impact on the population that went unsupported during the pandemic.