[Reconstructive surgery protocol recommendations during COVID-19 pandemia.]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare delivery, necessitating adaptations in specialized surgical fields.
• Reconstructive urology faced challenges in managing patient care, diagnosis, and surgical procedures during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide evidence-based recommendations for reconstructive urology during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To establish guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of urological conditions.
• To define surgical priorities and facilitate consensus among specialists.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 literature.
• Utilized authors' clinical experience from multiple institutions.
• Employed a modified nominal group technique for consensus building.

Main Results:

• A surgical priority classification was established: Emergency/Urgency, Elective Urgency/High, Elective/Intermediate, and Delayed/Low priority.
• Consensus was reached on the distribution of reconstructive urology procedures based on priority.
• Recommendations for diagnosis and follow-up were agreed upon.

Conclusions:

• Implementation of tools to streamline medical visits and diagnostic tests is crucial.
• Redistribution of surgical procedures based on defined priority levels is essential during pandemic periods.
• Telemedicine is vital for effective patient follow-up in reconstructive urology.