Ann Surg Treat Res.  2022 Jun;102(6):295-305. 10.4174/astr.2022.102.6.295.

Surgical safety in the COVID-19 era: present and future considerations

• Kim YI
• Park IJ

• KMID: 2530383
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2022.102.6.295

Abstract

The impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been globally paradigm shifting in all aspects. Surgeons have experienced unprecedented changes regarding operation schedules, preparations before surgery, and the precautions needed both during and after surgery. Many medical centers simultaneously reported a decrease in their numbers of surgeries, whether they were elective or emergent, or for cancerous or benign resections. However, accumulated surgical outcomes from the last 2 years of experience presented postoperative morbidity and mortality data that were comparable to the pre-pandemic era, whether in elective or urgent settings. Although COVID-19 showed a significant association with postoperative morbidity and mortality, the majority of noninfected patients could be treated successfully with stringent mitigation protocols. Initially recommended to be avoided at the start of the pandemic, minimally invasive surgery seems to be safe and feasible according to reported surgical outcomes. Numerous sets of guidelines have now been produced from medical societies and adhering to the basic precautions has been found to be practicable. It is crucial that health care systems and surgical staff remain vigilant and attentive to the ever-changing situation in this pandemic in order to provide optimal medical support to their patients.

Keyword

Coronavirus; COVID-19; Surgery

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) trends of recent 2 years. The recent surge of active COVID-19 from January 2022 in South Korea accounts for the global abrupt increase of active COVID-19. Charts have been edited using data provided by COVID-19 Dashboard (https://coronaboard.com/global/).

• 

  Fig. 2 Recommendations from medical societies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) precautions regarding surgery. ACS, American College of Surgeons; SAGES, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons; RCS, Royal College of Surgeons; KCA, Korean Cancer Association; JSS, Japan Surgical Society; ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; PPE, personal protective equipment; PAPR, purifying respirator; ICU, intensive care unit.

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