Cardiac surgery considerations and lessons learned during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID‐19 pandemic has transformed cardiac surgical practices. Limitations in intensive care resources and personal protective equipment have required many practices throughout the globe to pause elective operations and now slowly resume operations. However, much of cardiac surgery is not elective and patients continue to require surgery on an urgent or emergent basis during the pandemic. This continued need for providing surgical services has introduced several unique considerations ranging from how to prioritize surgery, how to ensure safety for cardiac surgical teams, and how best to resume elective operations to ensure the safety of patients. Additionally, the COVID‐19 pandemic has required a careful analysis of how best to carry out heart transplantation, extra‐corporeal membrane oxygenation, and congenital heart surgery. In this review, we present the many areas of multidisciplinary consideration, and the lessons learned that have allowed us to carry out cardiac surgery with excellence during the COVID‐19 pandemic. As various states experience plateaus, declines, and rises in COVID‐19 cases, these considerations are particularly important for cardiac surgical programs throughout the globe.

Mathematical model optimized for prediction and health care planning for COVID-19

“…Logically, and preserving quality care for urgent / emergent cases of patients with different serious disease conditions, healthcare can be organized as alternating periods of care focalization. 37 , 38 Thus, during the peaks of the pandemic, attention to COVID-19 would be intensified, reducing the care of stable patients with other diseases in proportion to the magnitude of the peaks of the pandemic. In contrast, during the trough periods, clinical activity targeted to non-COVID-19 disease would be intensified to above standard levels – taking full advantage of the window of opportunity provided.…”

Timing of congenital cardiac surgery in children who turned COVID-19 positive

“…Such patients are highly susceptible to a life-threatening infection if affected with severe COVID-19. 1 All patients but for one were asymptomatic for COVID-19 disease. The symptomatic child with Tetralogy of Fallot exhibited a mild COVID-19 disease.…”

Commentary: Virtual education in cardiothoracic surgery: Born out of necessity, enduring influence

“…The 1918 influenza pandemic did not change the world forever, nor will coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but until we have conquered this dreadful disease, we must all take measures to protect ourselves and the community at large. 3 , 4 , 5 …”