Safe Delivery of Surgical Care in Head and Neck Cancer Patients During COVID-19—an Audit of Pattern of Presentation and Treatment Strategies in an Oncology Centre in the Northern India

Delay in treatment of head and neck cancer leads to stage migration and increased morbidity. Due to the COVID-19, surgical care has been severely affected. We continued our oncology services during the pandemic. We present here the pattern of presentation of head and neck cancer patients to the hospital and strategy to continue services. A retrospective audit of patients registered under Head and Neck Disease Management Group during lockdown, 23rd March to 31st May 2020, was done. Four categories were made new registrations, post-surgical patients, emergency department visits and follow-up presentation. Of the 693 patients assessed, a majority were with oral cavity cancer (80%). Seventy-eight percent of patients presented with stage IV disease. There were 382 new registrations, of which 68% were symptomatic. Of the 69 patients that underwent surgery, 17 patients were on adjuvant treatment. A total of 60 patients presented to emergency department during this period, maximum with complaints of dyspnoea (67%). One hundred eighty-nine patients were follow-up patients of which 43% were symptomatic. Among these, 12 patients were diagnosed with recurrence. Various administrative and clinical policies were formulated to continue cancer care during this time. Surgical services need not be halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following scientific rationale and treatment strategies, safe oncosurgical care can be delivered during pandemic.