COVID-19: Pandemic surgery guidance

• Main Authors: Brücher Björn L.D.M., Nigri Giuseppe, Tinelli Andrea, Lapeña Jose Florencio F., Espin-Basany Eloy, Macri Paolo, Matevossian Edouard, Ralon Sergio, Perkins Ray, Lück Rainer, Kube Rainer, da Costa Jose MC, Mintz Yoav, Tez Mesut, Allert Sixtus, Sökmen Selman, Spychala Arkadiusz, Zilberstein Bruno, Marusch Frank, Kermansaravi Mohammad, Kycler Witold, Vicente Diego, Scherer Michael A., Rivkind Avraham, Elias Nelson, Wallner Grzegorz, Roviello Franco, Lara Santos Lúcio, Araujo Raimund J.C., Szold Amir, Oleas Raúl, Slak Rupnik Marjan, Salber Jochen, Jamall Ijaz S., Engel Alexander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2020-01-01
• Series: 4 open
• Subjects: anesthesia; cancer; cardiothoracic surgery; china; coronavirus; covid-19; dermatology; elective surgery; emergency; endocrine surgery; endoscopy; ent; epidemic; epidemiology; europe; face masks; general surgery; germany; guidance; gynecology; inflammation; italy; laparoscopy; laparotomy; morbidity; mortality; n95 masks; neurosurgery; orthopedics; pandemic; patient safety; pediatric surgery; pneumonia; protection; reconstructive and plastic surgery; surgical critical care; respiratory masks; sars-cov-2; sepsis; surgery; thoracoscopy; transplantation surgery; trauma surgery; urology; virus
• Online Access: https://www.4open-sciences.org/articles/XXXXX/full_html/2020/01/fopen200002s/fopen200002s.html

Based on high quality surgery and scientific data, scientists and surgeons are committed to protecting patients as well as healthcare staff and hereby provide this Guidance to address the special issues circumstances related to the exponential spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during this pandemic. As a basis, the authors used the British Intercollegiate General Surgery Guidance as well as recommendations from the USA, Asia, and Italy. The aim is to take responsibility and to provide guidance for surgery during the COVID-19 crisis in a simplified way addressing the practice of surgery, healthcare staff and patient safety and care. It is the responsibility of scientists and the surgical team to specify what is needed for the protection of patients and the affiliated healthcare team. During crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the responsibility and duty to provide the necessary resources such as filters, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) consisting of gloves, fluid resistant (Type IIR) surgical face masks (FRSM), filtering face pieces, class 3 (FFP3 masks), face shields and gowns (plastic ponchos), is typically left up to the hospital administration and government. Various scientists and clinicians from disparate specialties provided a Pandemic Surgery Guidance for surgical procedures by distinct surgical disciplines such as numerous cancer surgery disciplines, cardiothoracic surgery, ENT, eye, dermatology, emergency, endocrine surgery, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, pediatric surgery, reconstructive and plastic surgery, surgical critical care, transplantation surgery, trauma surgery and urology, performing different surgeries, as well as laparoscopy, thoracoscopy and endoscopy. Any suggestions and corrections from colleagues will be very welcome as we are all involved and locked in a rapidly evolving process on increasing COVID-19 knowledge.