Chicago Tribune: Elective Surgeries and COVID-19

Many of Northwestern Medicine neurosurgeon Dr. Sheri Dewan’s patients have already told her they’d like to continue to wait until June or July, she said. They’re afraid of catching the virus and also worried about how to get through a surgery and recovery when many hospitals are still restricting visitors, she said.

“For many of the surgeries, such as larger cranial surgeries or spinal surgeries, patients are very reluctant now, not only out of fear of catching the coronavirus but also the fact that their family may not be able to visit them for an extended period of time,” Dewan said. “It’s challenging to go through surgery without having a support structure readily available to you.”

Still, she said, it’s important to give patients who have been struggling through pain and discomfort the chance to get their issues addressed. She estimates that 20% to 25% of the procedures she usually does were canceled in recent weeks.

“I think it’s going to be a very slow process,” Dewan said. “I don’t suspect we’re going to be ramping up quickly."

Read the entire feature HERE.