Letter: News From the COVID-19 Front Lines: How Neurosurgeons Are Contributing

Early Responses of Neurosurgical Practice to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Rapid Review

“…Ten studies described measures to isolate suspected or confirmed patients with COVID-19, [5][6][7]9,10,12,14,17,18,20 achieved most commonly through designated wards 5,10,14,17,18 and intensive care units (ICUs) to manage patients with COVID-19. 5,7,9 Other studies described hospitals allocated to admit suspected patients with COVID-19 12,20 or to manage non-COVID neurosurgical cases. 6 Isolation often began before admission in nonemergency cases and emergencies were treated as suspected COVID-19.…”

“…Eight studies outlined interventions to optimize ICU capacity, 5,7,9,10,13,16,17,19 with most outlining a need to increase capacity. 5,7,9,16,19 Resources were reallocated from operating theaters 5 and previously designed neurologic ICUs reallocated to manage patients with COVID-19. 7 Expectation for pediatric resources to supplement the disproportionate disease burden in adults was also noted.…”

“…5,7,9,16,19 Resources were reallocated from operating theaters 5 and previously designed neurologic ICUs reallocated to manage patients with COVID-19. 7 Expectation for pediatric resources to supplement the disproportionate disease burden in adults was also noted. 19 Postponement or cessation of elective operating, alongside postoperative recovery in alternative care settings, was also initiated to preserve ICU capacity.…”

Letter to the Editor: ”Role of the Neurosurgeon in Times of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): The Importance of Focus in Critical Care”

“…These events indicate the need for the neurosurgeon to focus on critical care, not only from the neurologic sphere but also at the systemic level. A remarkable experience in which the participation and benefit that has resulted from integrating into the management of critical patients may be observed was published by Caridi et al., 5 where they manifest their role played linked with other services such as infectiology and nephrology, which have also remained in distinct performing areas during this pandemic. An important aspect mentioned is their role played as communicators with the patient's relatives, since relatives are not allowed to visit any patient as a preventive measure.…”

“…An important aspect mentioned is their role played as communicators with the patient's relatives, since relatives are not allowed to visit any patient as a preventive measure. 5 …”