[Endoscopic endonasal surgery during COVID-19 pandemic: Management guideline]

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Infectious Disease Control
• Medical Device Innovation

Background:

• The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic presents significant challenges to neurosurgical procedures, particularly endoscopic endonasal approaches.
• These procedures carry a high risk of viral transmission to healthcare personnel, initially leading to recommendations against their performance.
• The prolonged nature of the pandemic requires the development of safe alternatives for essential neurosurgical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a safety protocol for conducting endoscopic endonasal surgeries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To introduce a novel protection-aspiration device designed to enhance safety during these procedures.
• To provide guidelines for both urgent and scheduled neurosurgical cases in the context of a pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive safety protocol addressing infection control measures for neurosurgery.
• Design and description of a new protection-aspiration device, termed Maskpirator.
• Application of the protocol and device in urgent and scheduled endoscopic endonasal surgeries.

Main Results:

• The proposed protocol outlines specific measures to minimize contagion risk for healthcare workers.
• The Maskpirator device integrates protection and aspiration functionalities to enhance procedural safety.
• The study facilitates the continuation of necessary endoscopic endonasal surgeries despite pandemic-related risks.

Conclusions:

• A novel safety protocol and the Maskpirator device offer a viable solution for performing endoscopic endonasal surgeries during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
• Implementation of these measures can significantly reduce the risk of healthcare personnel exposure to the virus.
• This approach allows for the safe execution of critical neurosurgical procedures, balancing patient care with occupational safety.