Article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urology residency training in Italy - Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica 2020 August;72(4):505-9 - Minerva Medica - Journals

Purpose To review the currently available literature reporting the patterns of recurrence and their predictive factors after open radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer. Methods A review of the literature was performed using the MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Sciences databases from January 1997 to May 2017. The PRISMA guidelines were followed for the conduct of the study. Results Local recurrence rate ranges between 30 and 54%. Distant recurrence is not often standardized and is reported in up to 50% of cases. The overall 5-year recurrence-free survival rates from 58 to 81%. The mean follow-up of studies included in the analysis ranged from 18 to 350 months. Details on the most important demographic and epidemiological, clinical, histologic and pathologic predictors of recurrence after radical cystectomy are provided through an evidence-based approach. The impact of the extension of lymph node dissection on recurrence after RC is investigated. Conclusions A correct prognostic assessment is essential for patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, thereby potentially improving their oncologic outcomes.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), has rapidly been spreading worldwide and Italy has been hit hard, forced the Italian Healthcare System to change and adapt to these extreme conditions. The Urology Department daily activities were drastically reduced and limited only to non‐deferrable procedures and the entire organogram were reorganized following a rigorous flow‐chart. It’s evident that this unprecedent scenario is having an impact on residents training program, considering that it is very difficult to predict the duration of emergency. The urology residents do not have the opportunity to carry out clinical activities nor to be tutored, as the senior physicians are engaged in the emergency’s management.