You Need a Plan: A Stepwise Protocol for Operating Room Preparedness During an Infectious Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Surgical Care
• Public Health

Background:

• The global emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) poses significant challenges to emergency surgical management.
• Protecting operating room personnel and ensuring effective care for surgical patients with COVID-19 are critical concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a protocol for managing surgical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To provide a framework for protecting healthcare workers and maintaining patient safety.

Main Methods:

• Establishing rigorous infection control measures for interfacility transport and operative care.
• Developing rapidly adaptable emergency protocols that incorporate new knowledge.
• Implementing practice drills for operating room personnel.

Main Results:

• Initial challenges in managing COVID-19 surgical patients were encountered.
• A structured protocol was developed to address safety and operational concerns.

Conclusions:

• The shared experience aims to assist other institutions in managing surgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The developed protocol serves as a template for future infectious disease emergencies, adaptable to various healthcare settings.