TY - JOUR A1 - Heinz, Tizian A1 - Eidmann, Annette A1 - Jakuscheit, Axel A1 - Laux, Tino A1 - Rudert, Maximilian A1 - Stratos, Ioannis T1 - Demographics and trends for inbound medical tourism in Germany for orthopedic patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health N2 - Medical tourism is a rapidly growing sector of economic growth and diversification. However, data on the demographics and characteristics of the traveling patients are sparse. In this study, we analyzed the common demographic properties and characteristics of the inbound medical tourists seeking orthopedic medical care in Germany for the years 2010 to 2019 compared to a domestic group. At the same time, we examined how the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak of 2020 changed the field of medical tourism in Germany. Calculations were performed using administrative hospital data provided by the Federal Statistical Department of Germany. Data were analyzed from the years 2010 to 2020. A total of six elective orthopedic surgery codes (bone biopsy, knee arthroplasty, foot surgery, osteotomy, hardware removal, and arthrodesis) were identified as key service indicators for medical tourism and further analyzed. Factors including residence, sex, year, and type of elective surgery were modeled using linear regression analysis. Age and sex distributions were compared between patients living inside Germany (DE) or outside Germany (non-DE). Between 2010 and 2020, 6,261,801 orthopedic procedures were coded for the DE group and 27,420 key procedures were identified for the non-DE group. Medical tourists were predominantly male and significantly younger than the domestic population. The linear regression analysis of the OPS codes over the past years showed a significantly different slope between the DE and non-DE groups only for the OPS code “hardware removal”. With the COVID-19 pandemic, an overall decline in performed orthopedic procedures was observed for the non-DE and the DE group. A significant reduction below the 95% prediction bands for the year 2020 could be shown for hardware removal and foot surgery (for DE), and for hardware removal, knee arthroplasty, foot surgery, and osteotomy (for non-DE). This study is the first to quantify inbound medical tourism in elective orthopedic surgery in Germany. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected many — but not all — areas of orthopedic surgery. It has to be seen how this negative trend will develop in the future. KW - inbound medical tourism KW - orthopedic surgery KW - Germany KW - COVID-19 KW - pandemic Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-304955 SN - 1660-4601 VL - 20 IS - 2 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gessler, Florian A1 - Lehmann, Felix A1 - Bösel, Julian A1 - Fuhrer, Hannah A1 - Neugebauer, Hermann A1 - Wartenberg, Katja E. A1 - Wolf, Stefan A1 - Bernstock, Joshua D. A1 - Niesen, Wolf-Dirk A1 - Schuss, Patrick T1 - Triage and Allocation of Neurocritical Care Resources During the COVID 19 Pandemic - A National Survey JF - Frontiers in Neurology N2 - Objective: In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the associated hospitalization of an overwhelming number of ventilator-dependent patients, medical and/or ethical patient triage paradigms have become essential. While guidelines on the allocation of scarce resources do exist, such work within the subdisciplines of intensive care (e.g., neurocritical care) remains limited. Methods: A 16-item questionnaire was developed that sought to explore/quantify the expert opinions of German neurointensivists with regard to triage decisions. The anonymous survey was conducted via a web-based platform and in total, 96 members of the Initiative of German Neurointensive Trial Engagement (IGNITE)-study group were contacted via e-mail. The IGNITE consortium consists of an interdisciplinary panel of specialists with expertise in neuro-critical care (i.e., anesthetists, neurologists and neurosurgeons). Results: Fifty members of the IGNITE consortium responded to the questionnaire; in total the respondents were in charge of more than 500 Neuro ICU beds throughout Germany. Common determinants reported which affected triage decisions included known patient wishes (98%), the state of health before admission (96%), SOFA-score (85%) and patient age (69%). Interestingly, other principles of allocation, such as a treatment of “youngest first” (61%) and members of the healthcare sector (50%) were also noted. While these were the most accepted parameters affecting the triage of patients, a “first-come, first-served” principle appeared to be more accepted than a lottery for the allocation of ICU beds which contradicts much of what has been reported within the literature. The respondents also felt that at least one neurointensivist should serve on any interdisciplinary triage team. Conclusions: The data gathered in the context of this survey reveal the estimation/perception of triage algorithms among neurointensive care specialists facing COVID-19. Further, it is apparent that German neurointensivists strongly feel that they should be involved in any triage decisions at an institutional level given the unique resources needed to treat patients within the Neuro ICU. KW - COVID-19 KW - SARS-CoV KW - pandemic KW - patient triage KW - neurocritical care Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221593 SN - 1664-2295 VL - 11 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fuchs, Konrad F. A1 - Eden, Lars A1 - Gilbert, Fabian A1 - Bernuth, Silvia A1 - Wurmb, Thomas A1 - Meffert, Rainer H. A1 - Jordan, Martin C. T1 - Führt eine COVID-19 bedingte Ausgangsbeschränkung zu einer Reduktion schwerverletzter Patienten an einem überregionalen Traumazentrum? T1 - Do COVID-19 restrictions lead to a decrease in severely injured patients at a level 1 trauma center in Germany? JF - Der Unfallchirurg N2 - Hintergrund Intensiv- und Beatmungskapazitäten sind für die Behandlung COVID-19-erkrankter Patienten essenziell. Unabhängig davon beanspruchen auch schwer verletzte Patienten häufig Intensiv- und Beatmungskapazitäten. Daraus ergibt sich folgende Fragestellung: Führt eine Ausgangsbeschränkung zu einer Reduktion schwer verletzter Patienten, und kann hierdurch mit frei werdenden Intensivkapazitäten gerechnet werden? Material und Methoden Es erfolgte eine retrospektive Auswertung schwer verletzter Patienten mit einem Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16 zwischen dem 17.03.2020 und 30.04.2020 (landesweiter Shutdown) an einem überregionalen Traumazentrum. Erfasst wurden der Unfallmechanismus, ISS, Versicherungsträger (BG vs. GKV/PKV), ob es sich um einen dokumentierten Suizidversuch handelte, und ob eine operative Intervention innerhalb der ersten 24 h erforderlich war. Als Kontrollgruppe wurden die Daten des gleichen Zeitraums der Jahre 2018 und 2019 ausgewertet. Ergebnisse Es konnte keine wesentliche Veränderung bezüglich der Anzahl an schwer verletzten Patienten festgestellt werden (2018 n = 30, 2019 n = 23, 2020 n = 27). Es zeigten sich insgesamt keine deutlichen Veränderungen der absoluten Zahlen bezüglich der Intensivpflichtigkeit in den ersten 24 h und der Beatmungspflichtigkeit beim Verlassen des Schockraums. Die Anzahl an Patienten, die eine Operation innerhalb der ersten 24 h nach Eintreffen im Schockraum benötigten, war 2020 sogar leicht erhöht, jedoch nicht statistisch signifikant. Der durchschnittliche ISS blieb konstant. Bezüglich der Unfallursache zeigte sich 2020 kein Motorradfahrer, der einen nicht berufsgenossenschaftlich versicherten Unfall erlitt (2018 n = 5, 2019 n = 4, 2020 n = 0). Es wurde 2020 ein erhöhter Anteil an Arbeitsunfällen mit einem ISS ≥16 festgestellt (2018: 10 %, 2019: 26,1 %, 2020: 44,4 %). Diskussion Eine Ausgangsbeschränkung führte zu keiner Reduktion verletzter- und intensivpflichtiger Patienten am untersuchten Zentrum. Auch unter einer landesweiten Ausgangsbeschränkung muss für dieses Patientenkollektiv eine ausreichende Menge an Intensiv- und OP-Kapazitäten vorgehalten werden. Die Bestätigung dieser Ergebnisse durch Auswertung nationaler Register steht noch aus. N2 - Background Intensive care and ventilator capacities are essential for treatment of COVID-19 patients. Severely injured patients are often in continuous need of intensive care and ventilator treatment. The question arises, whether restrictions related to COVID-19 have led to a decrease in severely injured patients and thus to an increase in intensive care unit (ICU) capacity. Material and methods A retrospective analysis of all seriously injured patients with an injury severity score (ISS) ≥16 was performed between 17 March and 30 April 2020 at a level 1 trauma center in Germany. The mechanism of injury and the ISS were recorded. Further data were collected as to whether it was a work-related accident, a documented suicide attempt and if surgery was necessary in the first 24 h after arrival in hospital. Data from 2018 and 2019 served as a control group. Results There was no substantial difference in the total number of seriously injured patients (2018 n = 30, 2019 n = 23, 2020 n = 27). Furthermore, there was no relevant difference in the number of patients needing intensive care or ventilator treatment when leaving the shock room. The number of patients needing an operative intervention within the first 24 h after arriving at hospital was slightly higher in 2020. The mean ISS was at a constant level during all 3 years. In 2020 there was no polytraumatized motorbike rider, who did not have a work-related accident (2018 n = 5, 2019 n = 4, 2020 n = 0). A noticeable increase in work-related accidents was observed (2018: 10%, 2019: 26.1%, 2020 44.4%). Discussion Restrictions related to COVID-19 did not lead to a reduction in seriously injured patients needing ICU care. Due to the monocentric data analysis there is room for misinterpretation. In general, intensive care and operating capacities should be managed with adequate consideration for seriously injured patients even in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Confirmation through the German Trauma Register is pending. KW - Intensivkapazitäten KW - Coronavirus KW - Injury Severity Score KW - Polytrauma KW - Pandemie KW - ICU capacities KW - Corona virus KW - injury severity score KW - polytrauma KW - pandemic Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-232547 SN - 0177-5537 VL - 124 ER -