International cooperation group of emergency surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has changed working conditions for emergency surgical teams around the world. International surgical societies have issued clinical recommendations to optimize surgical management. This international study aimed to assess the degree of emergency surgical teams' adoption of recommendations during the pandemic. Methods Emergency surgical team members from over 30 countries were invited to answer an anonymous, prospective, online survey to assess team organization, PPE-related aspects, OR preparations, anesthesiologic considerations, and surgical management for emergency surgery during the pandemic. Results One-hundred-and-thirty-four questionnaires were returned (N = 134) from 26 countries, of which 88% were surgeons, 7% surgical trainees, 4% anesthetists. 81% of the respondents got involved with COVID-19 crisis management. Social media were used by 91% of the respondents to access the recommendations, and 66% used videoconference tools for team communication. 51% had not received PPE training before the pandemic, 73% reported equipment shortage, and 55% informed about re-use of N95/FPP2/3 respirators. Dedicated COVID operating areas were cited by 77% of the respondents, 44% had performed emergency surgical procedures on COVID-19 patients, and over half (52%), favored performing laparoscopic over open surgical procedures. Conclusion Surgical team members have responded with leadership to the COVID-19 pandemic, with crisis management principles. Social media and videoconference have been used by the vast majority to access guidelines or to communicate during social distancing. The level of adoption of current recommendations is high for organizational aspects and surgical management, but not so for PPE training and availability, and anesthesiologic considerations.

Changes in surgicaL behaviOrs dUring the CoviD-19 pandemic. The SICE CLOUD19 Study

“…As already reported by previously published surveys [ 16 , 17 ], in the first pandemic phase, there was an apparent reduction in the activity of the surgical departments, primarily with the reduction in the number of effective beds dedicated to surgical activity: overall the 59% of surgical departments reduced their beds' availability, and 11.9% of them were closed during the phase I of the pandemic. The goal was to redirect nursing and medical-surgical staff to the management of COVID-19 patients, as demonstrated by the fact that about 50% of the departments had at least one member of their staff referred to the care of COVID-19 non-surgical patients.…”

Challenges in providing surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic: Qualitative study among Operating Department Practitioners in Pakistan

“…23 On a positive note, many surgical teams have responded by accessing and sharing information through social media and video conferencing to maintain minimum surgical standards for emergency procedures. 24,25 ODPs are low to middle-income earners in Pakistan and many have entered the profession with only secondary school degrees. Due to their underprivileged background, they are particularly vulnerable to infection burden from the household locality.…”

Knee Surgery during the COVID-19 Lockdown—Experiences of a Level-One Trauma Center in Germany

“…The COVID-19 pandemic claimed the use of new and unaccustomed PPE during surgery. However, according to a survey by Benitez et al assessing team organization, PPE-related aspects, operation room preparations, anesthesiologic considerations, and surgical management for emergency surgery during the pandemic showed problems regarding the availability and use of PPE [ 23 ]. About half of the respondents indicated to have a scarcity or even absence of protective equipment, and also, almost half of the respondents had not received training in the use of PPE while performing emergency surgical procedures before the pandemic.…”