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. 2021 Jun;47(3):621-629.
doi: 10.1007/s00068-020-01521-y. Epub 2020 Oct 13.

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

Carlos Yánez Benítez  1 , Marcelo A F Ribeiro Jr  2 , Henrique Alexandrino  3 , Piotr Koleda  4 , Sérgio Faria Baptista  5 , Mohammad Azfar  6 , Salomone Di Saverio  7 , Luca Ponchietti  8 , Antonio Güemes  9 , Juan L Blas  10 , Carlos Mesquita  3
Affiliations

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

Carlos Yánez Benítez et al. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2021 Jun.

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.

Keywords: Coronavirus infections; Pandemic; Patient care team; Personal protective equipment; Surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Carlos Yánez Benítez, Marcelo Ribeiro, Henrique Alexandrino, Piotr Koleda, Sérgio Faria Baptista, Mohammad Azfar, Salomone Di Saverio, Luca Ponchietti, Antonio Güemes, Juan L Blas, and Carlos Mesquita have no conflict of interest.

Figures

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Fig. 1
Respondents (N = 134) by region and country
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Participants’ use of social media channels
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Participants’ use of video conference tools
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Personal protective equipment used for emergency surgery
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Fig. 5
Shortage of Personal protective equipment for emergency surgical procedures
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Fig. 6
Improvisation of personal protective equipment in emergency surgery
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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