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Cardiac surgeons' concerns, perceptions, and responses during the COVID-19 pandemic
Jessica G Y Luc1, Niv Ad2,3, Tom C Nguyen4
1Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Journal of Cardiac Surgery
|June 12, 2021
Summary
Cardiac surgeons faced significant concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, including personal and family health risks and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages. Many adopted PPE conservation strategies due to high pandemic burden.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted healthcare, particularly impacting cardiac surgery.
- This study addresses the specific concerns and adaptive strategies of cardiac surgeons during this crisis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the perceptions and practice changes of North American cardiac surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To understand the challenges faced by cardiac surgeons regarding personal safety and resource availability.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to adult cardiac surgery centers across North America.
- Data on surgeon concerns, practice modifications, and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Nurses (88%) and advanced care practitioners (69%) were most frequently redeployed; surgeons (25%) also experienced redeployment.
- Top surgeon concerns included family exposure (81%), personal infection (68%), and PPE shortages (28%).
- Nearly half of N95 respirator users employed decontamination (49%) or reuse strategies, influenced by institutional COVID-19 burden.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 profoundly impacted North American cardiac surgeons, highlighting workforce and resource challenges.
- Findings underscore the need for improved preparedness strategies for future healthcare crises and pandemic surges.
Keywords:
cardiovascular research
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