Open AccessCOVID‐19 ‐ ESSKA guidelines and recommendations for resuming elective surgery
Author(s) -
Mouton Caroline,
Hirschmann Michael T.,
Ollivier Matthieu,
Seil Romain,
Menetrey Jacques
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of experimental orthopaedics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2197-1153
DOI - 10.1186/s40634-020-00248-4
Subject(s) - covid-19 , orthopedic surgery , medicine , coronavirus infections , medline , general surgery , surgery , political science , virology , pathology , disease , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law
The roadmap to elective surgery resumption after this COVID‐19 pandemic should be progressive and cautious. The aim of this paper was to give recommendations and guidelines for resuming elective orthopedic surgery in the safest environment possible. Elective surgery should be performed in COVID‐free facilities and hospital stay should be as short as possible. For matters of safety, patients considered first for surgery should be carefully selected according to COVID infection status/exposure, age, ASA physical status classification system / risk factors, socio‐professional situation and surgical indication. A strategy for resuming elective surgery in four phases is proposed. Preoperative testing for COVID‐19 infection is highly recommended. In any cases, COVID symptoms including fever and increased temperature should be constantly monitored until the day of surgery. Elective surgery should be postponed at the slightest suspicion of a COVID‐19 infection. In case of surgery, adapted personal protective equipment in terms of gowns, gloves, masks and eye protection is highly recommended and described.