In light of the COVID-19 situation, the European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Office has set up a Rapid Reaction Group (GORRG) to provide rapid guidance underpinned by the best knowledge available. The aim of these revised recommendations is to support the urological community by providing tools which facilitate decision-making in this unprecedented situation, whilst minimising the impact and risks for both patients and clinicians, whenever possible.
The Group, composed of highly-experienced Guidelines Office Board and Panel members, produced a protocol and methodology, in coordination with other relevant EAU offices, the Executive Committee and senior management. All Guidelines Panels reviewed their relevant guideline recommendations on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, taking into account national and local COVID-19 guidelines.
The GORRG Group are aware that significant differences exist between countries and regions depending on local resources and health systems and specific situations like the current COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore these recommendations will need to be re-evaluated in the context of the clinical situation as the pandemic evolves, and doctors will need to make the decision to de-escalate from a high to a lower priority or vice versa.
Although high-quality evidence might not be available for all proposed guidance, this revised information presents an additional guide for the management of urological conditions during the current COVID-19.
This recommendations for each Guidelines panel are freely accessible via Uroweb.org. An article will also be published on the COVID-19 resource centre of the Journal of European Urology giving further background and information on the revised guidelines.
