[The Impact of Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Care for Elective Patients (C-elective Study) - Results of a Multicenter Survey].

Background: Due to the COVID-19-related lockdown regulations, surgical clinics had to cut down elective procedures. The impact of the cancellation and postponing surgery on patients is unclear.

Methods: All patients from six hospitals with canceled surgery during the first lockdown (03/16-04/24/2020) were asked to answer a questionnaire.

Results: In total, 225 patients took part. In 88 (39.1%) patients, the disease-related complaints changed, mainly towards an increase in severity (82.6%). That was especially true for hernia patients (44.4%). In 4% of the cases, there was a complication requiring surgery in the time interval between the original date of the operation and the interview. For about a third, the cancelation of scheduled surgery caused major administrative difficulties. Most of the patients (76.3%) understood the measures taken, though 40.4% of them considered that their indication was very urgent.

Discussion And Conclusion: The overall complication rate was low, and patients agreed to the measures taken; however, especially hernia patients showed increasing symptoms and some acute incarcerations. It seems reasonable to monitor symptomatic patients closely, in order to prioritise them when surgical capacity is restricted.