Setting and population
During the most acute COVID-19 emergency phase, from 8 March 2020 to 20
April 2020, we prospectively collected data from patients admitted to
ENT department of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”,
in Rome (Italy). As a result of new restrictions imposed by the health
emergency and infectious risk, hospitalization at ENT department was
permitted strictly for patients suffering from head-neck cancer,
assessed by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) and candidate for an
appropriate surgical therapy. The MDT in our practice is composed by
several specialists 8: head and neck surgeon,
radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, neuroradiologist, supportive
and palliative care specialist, speech language pathologist,
nutritionist, dentist, who during COVID-19 pandemic, can meet only in a
virtual conference room with an associated tele-conference line. Remote
participants were able to join via on-line platform, observing eventual
imaging reproduced during the conference and discussing the
post-operative care. For non-emergency patients or patients with benign
head and neck tumors, the in-hospital treatment was postponed according
to national and regional authorities’ indications.