Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Catheterisation Laboratory Considerations: “Looking for Essentials”

Abstract

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a significant health crisis that impacts every healthcare system worldwide, and has led to a dramatic change in dealing with different diseases during the pandemic. Interventional cardiologists are frontline workers who deal with many cardiovascular emergencies, either in patients with proven COVID-19 or in suspected cases. Many heart associations worldwide are currently setting appropriate recommendations for the management of emergency cardiac interventions. In this expert opinion, the authors highlight the essential requirements in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Left atrial appendage occlusion in COVID-19 times

“…Non-urgent procedures, including structural heart (SH) interventions, have been postponed to avoid unnecessary patient exposure to COVID-19 as well as to preserve capacity of intensive care units (ICUs) and anaesthesiology teams. 1 Six months after the COVID-19 outbreak, waiting lists of non-urgent SH interventions continue to increase, while the pandemic is not yet under control. In addition, some of the previously deferred patients have worse cardiac symptoms, especially those patients with heart valve disease, precluding any other delay in their treatment.…”