QLTI-21. SAFETY OF THE UTILIZATION OF TELEMEDICINE FOR BRAIN TUMOR NEUROSURGERY FOLLOW-UP

BACKGROUND There is a need to evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent brain tumor surgery and were followed by telemedicine or in-person consults during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We retrospectively included all patients who underwent surgery for brain tumor resection by a single neurosurgeon at our Institution from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions (March 2020) to August 2021. Outcomes were assessed by stratifying the patients using their preference for follow-up method (telemedicine or in-person). RESULTS Three-hundred and eighteen (318) brain tumor patients who were included. The follow-up method of choice was telemedicine in 185 patients (58.17%), and in-person consults in 133 patients. We found that patients followed by telemedicine lived significantly farther, with a median of 22.23 miles, compared to a median of 36.34 miles in the TM cohort (p = 0.0025). When comparing visits to the emergency department (ED) within 30 days after surgery, and we found no statistical difference between the TM and the IP group (7.3% vs 6.01%, p=0.72). Readmission rates, wound infections and 30-day mortality were similar in both cohorts. These findings were also consistent after matching cohorts using a propensity score. The percentage of telemedicine follow-up consults was higher in the first semester (73.17%) of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the second (46.21%) and third semesters (47.86%). CONCLUSIONS Telehealth follow-up alternatives may be safely offered to patients after brain tumor surgery, thereby reducing patient burden in those with longer distances to the hospital or special situations as the COVID-19 pandemic.