Management of Pediatric Foreign Body Injuries during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of an International Survey
Honoria Ocagli,
Danila Azzolina,
Andrea Francavilla,
Emrah Aydin,
Solidea Baldas,
Alejandro Cocciaglia,
Hugo Rodriguez,
Dario Gregori,
Giulia Lorenzoni,
Maayan Gruber,
the COVID-19-Susy Group
Affiliations
Honoria Ocagli
Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Danila Azzolina
Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Andrea Francavilla
Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Emrah Aydin
Department of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Koç University, 34450 Istanbul, Turkey
Solidea Baldas
Protecting Children Association (Prochild) Onlus, 34129 Trieste, Italy
Alejandro Cocciaglia
Sanatorio Mater Dei, Buenos Aires C1425, Argentina
Hugo Rodriguez
Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan, Buenos Aires C1245, Argentina
Dario Gregori
Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Giulia Lorenzoni
Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy
Maayan Gruber
Galilee Medical Center, Azrieli faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Haifa 22100, Israel
The COVID-19 pandemic has had direct and indirect effects on daily life. In hospitals, the impact of the pandemic was observed in the diagnostic and therapeutic workflow. In this work, we explored potential changes in activities related to the treatment of foreign body injuries (FBIs) in children and the behavioral habits of physicians during the first wave of the pandemic. An online survey was conducted among physicians of the Susy Safe network. The survey comprised items related to respondent information, reference center characteristics, the treatment of FBIs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a modified COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (CAS). The survey was distributed among the Susy Safe project international network surveillance registry for FBIs. A total of 58 physicians responded to the survey, including 18 (32%) from Europe and 16 (28%) from South America. The respondents indicated that the estimated number of aspirated foreign bodies during the pandemic was lower than or the same as that before the pandemic (43, 74%), and the same was observed for ingested foreign bodies (43, 74%). In univariable logistic regression, no single predictor was associated with a delay in routine care for children or an increasing tendency of medical personnel to avoid procedures. The workflow of physicians involved in the management of FBIs in children has not changed drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in emergency departments.
