Operating during the COVID-19 pandemic: How to reduce medical error.

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020.
• The pandemic significantly impacted professional and private lives globally.
• Immediate consequences included the suspension of surgical training and examinations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the operational changes and considerations for surgical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To highlight the adaptability and resilience of surgeons in a crisis.
• To provide guidance on maintaining essential surgical services amidst a pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Review of the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical training and practice.
• Analysis of the categorization of surgical cases (essential vs. elective).
• Discussion of the adaptation strategies for surgeons and operating rooms.

Main Results:

• Surgical training, MRCS, and FRCS examinations were cancelled by March 16, 2020.
• Essential cancer, emergency, and trauma surgeries were prioritized.
• All elective, non-essential surgical cases were postponed.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons demonstrated flexibility and resilience in adapting to new working conditions.
• The pandemic necessitated a re-evaluation of surgical priorities and workflows.
• Maintaining essential surgical care while managing a pandemic requires strategic planning and adaptability.