Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 May 11;8(5):e2904.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002904. eCollection 2020 May.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 State Guidelines on Elective Surgery: Considerations for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons

Benjamin A Sarac  1 , Anna R Schoenbrunner  2 , Stelios C Wilson  3 , Ernest S Chiu  3 , Jeffrey E Janis  2
Affiliations

Coronavirus Disease 2019 State Guidelines on Elective Surgery: Considerations for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons

Benjamin A Sarac et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Vague recommendations regarding elective surgery have been proposed by national organizations in an attempt to conserve personal protective equipment and to protect healthcare workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In response, some states have attempted to provide more clear guidance.

Methods: An internet search was performed to identify and analyze what guidance each state published through government websites through April 10, 2020.

Results: Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia published guidance in the form of either a recommendation or a mandate. Procedures relating to cosmetics and malignancy were found to be mentioned in 4 and 12 states, respectively, but ultimately lacked case-specific information.

Conclusions: Current government and state recommendations do not provide clear guidance on how plastic and reconstructive surgeons should approach elective surgeries. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of all plastic and reconstructive surgeons to operate under appropriate law while individualizing their practices to best suit the needs of their patients while being mindful of resource limitations and exposure risks.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Dr. Janis received royalties from Thieme Publishing. The other authors have no financial interest to declare.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. American College of Surgeons COVID-19: Recommendations for management of elective surgical procedures. 2020Available at https://www.facs.org/-/media/files/covid19/recommendations_for_managemen.... Accessed March 23, 2020.
    1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS adult elective surgery and procedures recommendations: Limit all non-essential planned surgeries and procedures, including dental, until further notice. Available at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/31820-cms-adult-elective-surgery-and-.... Accessed March 23, 2020.
    1. Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. State guidance on elective surgeries. Available at https://www.ascassociation.org/asca/resourcecenter/latestnewsresourcecen....
    1. Alaska. **Amended COVID-19 health mandate**. 2020. Available at https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/04072020-COVID-Mandate.... Accessed April 10, 2020.
    1. Alabama. Order of the state health officer suspending certain public gatherings due to risk of infection by COVID-19. 2020. Available at https://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2020/03/Amended-Statewide-Social-Dis.... Accessed April 10, 2020.