Lessons Learned from the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Vascular Surgery Department and Preparation for Future Outbreaks.

Objectives: This study aims to report the changes and adaptations of a vascular tertiary center during a global pandemic and the impact on its activity and patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study within the Vascular Surgery ward in Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Portugal. All data from surgical, inpatient and outpatient activity were collected from February to June 2020 and compared to the same 5-month period in 2018 and 2019.