Restarting elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Mahendratama Purnama Adhi Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lambung Mangkurat, Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin, Indonesia.
  • Agus Suhendar Departement of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lambung Mangkurat, Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin, Indonesia.
  • Bagus Fajar Rohman Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lambung Mangkurat, Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin, Indonesia.
  • Edi Hartoyo Departement of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lambung Mangkurat, Ulin General Hospital Banjarmasin, Indonesia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35975/apic.v25i3.1513
Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, COVID-19-free pathway, Restarting elective surgery

Abstract

In the early days of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several countries had policies to postpone elective surgical services. By reducing or suspending elective surgery, they aimed to maximize existing resources to deal with patients with COVID-19. However, the delay and/or termination of elective surgery created additional problems, both for patients and the healthcare system. Discontinuation of elective surgery can cause a risk of a backlog; increasing patient morbidity and mortality; poorer quality of life; affecting finances and hospital resources, as well as training and research programs. Based on all these considerations, elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic must be restarted with several requirements and provisions, which provide safety for the patients as well as the healthcare workers. The COVID-19-free pathway has been shown to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in hospitals for patients undergoing elective surgery. We can use this strategy as a protocol in the future pandemics.

Key words: COVID-19; Pandemic; COVID-19-free pathway; Restarting elective surgery

Citation: Adhi MP, Rohman BF, Suhendar A, Hartoyo E. Restarting elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2021;25(3):376–382. DOI: doi.org/10.35975/apic.v25i3.1513

Received: December 28, 2020; Reviewed: January 8, 2021; Accepted: February 28, 2021

Published
06-02-2021
How to Cite
Adhi, M., Suhendar, A., Rohman, B., & Hartoyo, E. (2021). Restarting elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anaesthesia, Pain & Intensive Care, 25(3), 376–382. https://doi.org/10.35975/apic.v25i3.1513
Issue
Vol 25 No 3 (2021): May-June
Section
Review Article