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Management of acute and chronic aortic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic- results from a web-based ad-hoc platform
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  • Martin Czerny,
  • Josua VanDenBerg,
  • Roberto CHIESA,
  • Michael Jacobs,
  • Stephan Jakob,
  • Hans-Joerg Jenni,
  • Roberto Lorusso,
  • Davide Pacini,
  • Eduard Quintana,
  • B. Rylski,
  • Klaus Staier,
  • Nikolaos Tsilimparis,
  • Thomas Wyss,
  • Roman Gottardi,
  • Juerg Schmidli
Martin Czerny
University Heart Center Freiburg- Bad Krozingen, Germany

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Josua VanDenBerg
Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
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Roberto CHIESA
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute
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Michael Jacobs
University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Stephan Jakob
Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
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Hans-Joerg Jenni
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Switzerland
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Roberto Lorusso
Maastricht University Medical Centre
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Davide Pacini
Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna
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Eduard Quintana
Hospital Clínic
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B. Rylski
University Heart Center Freiburg- Bad Krozingen, Germany
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Klaus Staier
University Heart Center Freiburg- Bad Krozingen, Germany
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Nikolaos Tsilimparis
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
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Thomas Wyss
Hospital Winterthur, Switzerland
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Roman Gottardi
Mediclin Heart Centre,Lahr
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Juerg Schmidli
University Bern
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Abstract

Background. To share the results of a web-based expert panel discussion focusing on the management of acute and chronic aortic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A web-based expert panel discussion on April 18th 2020 where 8 experts were invited to share their current experience with COVID-19 disease touching several aspects of aortic medicine, was performed. After each talk, specific questions were asked to the online audience and results were immediately evaluated and shared with faculty and participants. Results. As of April 18 2020, 73.3% of the 87 participants from 26 different countries answered that overall less than 200 COVID positive patients have been treated in their respective institutions. Sixty-five percent reported that their hospital was well prepared for the pandemic. In 57.7 %, the percentage of infected health care professionals was below 5% whereas 23% reported 5-10% and 19.2% reported between 10 and 20%. Three percent reported to have seen aortic ruptures in primarily elective patients having been postponed because of the anticipated need to provide sufficient ICU capacity because of the pandemic. Nearly 70% reported a decrease of acute aortic syndromes since the start of the pandemic. Conclusions. The current COVID-19 pandemic has- led to a decrease of referrals of acute aortic syndromes in many services. The reluctance of patients seeking medical advice seems to be a major driver. The number of patients who have been postponed due to provisioning ICU resources but having experienced aortic rupture in the waiting period, is still low.
01 Sep 2020Assigned to Editor
01 Sep 2020Submission Checks Completed
01 Sep 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Accept