Luigi Cavanna is an Italian oncologist. He is the head of the hematology and oncology ward at the Guglielmo da Saliceto hospital in Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna. [1] [2] [3]
During the second week of March 2020, in the beginning of the pandemic lockdown in Italy, Cavanna realized that too many critically-ill COVID-19 patients were arriving at his hospital and that they could have been treated earlier before the escalation of the symptoms. [4] He therefore became one of the first doctors in Italy to focus on house calls for COVID-19 patients. [5] [6] [7]
Despite his age, Cavanna visited his patients in their homes in the province of Piacenza, wearing full-body protective gear. [8] [9] His protocol focuses on chest ultrasound with portable equipment, [6] [9] a rapid start of treatment, and remote monitoring of blood oxygen level. [10] [11] Early in the pandemic, Cavanna was also in favor of the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 home-bound patients. [12] [4]
According to the data he collected during the pandemic, fewer than 5% of the patients he treated at home worsened to the point where they had to be hospitalized, [13] [14] thus proving that a response in the early days could make a difference [15] and helped the hospitals by freeing up space for patients who could not be treated at home. [8]
Due to his efforts, Cavanna became famous internationally. [6] He also received national recognition. In July 2020, he was given the title of poliziotto ad honorem (ad honorem policeman) by the Polizia di Stato, [16] in October he received a special award of the Italian association of Medical Oncology [17] and in December he was elected as a positive symbol by the Coalizione Italiana Libertà e Diritti Civili. (Italian Coalition for Freedom and Civil Rights) [11]
Cavanna was also author of one of the first studies of oncology treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic outside China, published on Future Oncology in May 2020. [15] [18]