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. 2020 Sep;44(9):2842-2847.
doi: 10.1007/s00268-020-05648-2.

Impact of Personal Protective Equipment on Surgical Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Carlos Yánez Benítez  1 , Antonio Güemes  2 , José Aranda  3 , Marcelo Ribeiro  4 , Pablo Ottolino  5 , Salomone Di Saverio  6 , Henrique Alexandrino  7 , Luca Ponchietti  8 , Juan L Blas  9 ; International Cooperation Group on PPE and Emergency Surgery; Juan Pablo Ramos, Elena Rangelova, Mercedes Muñoz, Carlos Yánez Sr
Affiliations

Impact of Personal Protective Equipment on Surgical Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Carlos Yánez Benítez et al. World J Surg. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Background: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 pandemic has exposed surgeons to hazardous working conditions, imposing the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) use during surgery. The use of such equipment may affect their non-technical skills, augment fatigue, and affect performance. This study aimed to assess the surgeons' perceptions of the impact of wearing PPE during emergency surgery throughout the pandemic.

Methods: An international cooperation group conducted an anonymous online survey among surgeons from over 30 countries, to assess perceptions about the impact of PPE use on non-technical skills, overall comfort, decision making, and surgical performance during emergency surgery on COVID-19 patients.

Results: Responses to the survey (134) were received from surgeons based on 26 countries. The vast majority (72%) were males. More than half of the respondents (54%) felt that their surgical performance was hampered with PPE. Visual impairment was reported by 63%, whereas 54% had communication impediments. Less than half (48%) felt protected with the use of PPE, and the same proportion perceived that the use of such equipment influenced their decision making. Decreased overall comfort was cited by 66%, and 82% experienced increased surgical fatigue.

Conclusions: Surgeons perceived impediment for both visibility and communication, and other non-technical skills while using PPE on emergency surgery in COVID-19 patients. Their perceived lack of protection and comfort and increased fatigue may have inhibited their optimal surgical performance. More attention should be placed in the design of more user-friendly equipment, given the possibility of a second wave of the pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Carlos Yánez, Antonio Güemes, Jose Aranda, Marcelo Ribeiro, Pablo Ottolino, Salomone Di Saverio, Henrique Alexandrino, Luca Ponchietti, and Jun Luís Blas have no conflict of interest in this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of participating countries with the number of participants per country
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Iconographic representation of PPE impact on surgeon’s working conditions
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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