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Author Spotlight: Enhancing Coronary Artery Revascularization
Published on: September 15, 2023
Perioperative planning for cardiovascular operations in the COVID-19 pandemic
Hayrettin Levent Mavioğlu1, Ertekin Utku Ünal1, Göktan Aşkın1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates prioritizing cardiovascular surgeries. A new algorithm, Level of Priority, helps manage surgical deferrals and ensure patient safety during the global health crisis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Surgical Innovation
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges to healthcare systems globally.
- Increased transmission rates strain healthcare capacity, necessitating careful resource allocation.
- Elective cardiovascular surgeries often require postponement to manage pandemic-related burdens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an algorithm for prioritizing cardiovascular surgeries based on urgency and deferrability.
- To outline essential precautions for performing emergency cardiovascular surgeries safely.
- To ensure patient safety and protect surgical teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Development of the 'Level of Priority' algorithm for cardiovascular disease surgical management.
- Identification of critical infection prevention measures for surgical settings.
- Guidelines for intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up post-emergency cardiovascular surgery.
Main Results:
- The 'Level of Priority' algorithm provides a framework for decision-making regarding surgical deferral.
- Established protocols enhance safety for patients undergoing emergency cardiovascular procedures.
- Implementation of stringent infection control measures protects healthcare professionals.
Conclusions:
- A systematic approach is crucial for managing cardiovascular surgical backlogs during pandemics.
- The developed algorithm aids in optimizing surgical scheduling and resource allocation.
- Prioritizing patient and staff safety is paramount in high-transmission environments.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a serious health concern which alert all healthcare professionals worldwide. There are two main issues caused by this pandemic regarding for the healthcare system. First, it is a necessity to postpone many elective procedures/surgeries to reduce the burden of the healthcare system which may be confronted with strain by the increased speed of transmission. Therefore, we aimed to develop an algorithm called as Level of Priority to identify the priority and deferrability of cardiovascular diseases requiring surgery. Second, it is essential to perform surgery and intensive care unit follow-up in a setting where the infection prevention measures are followed for primary patients requiring emergency cardiovascular surgery. In this article, we present necessary precautions to be exercised to provide the patient safety and the highest level of protection for the surgical team.
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