BJS commission on surgery and perioperative care post-COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• The World Health Organization declared Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11, 2020, severely compromising global surgical practice.
• This Commission sought to document and analyze the changes within the surgical environment during the pandemic by examining colleagues' experiences and existing literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and reflect on the changes observed in the global surgical environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify frequently encountered issues and proposed solutions impacting surgical practice and training worldwide.

Main Methods:

• In late 2020, BJS solicited firsthand accounts from the global surgical community regarding the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
• A literature review was conducted on the effects of COVID-19 on surgery and perioperative care.
• Thematic analysis was employed to synthesize correspondent experiences and literature findings.

Main Results:

• Communications were received from leading clinicians and academics across diverse surgical specialties on all inhabited continents.
• The collected responses offered insights into various aspects of surgical practice, from governmental policies to individual clinical settings and training programs.
• The study highlighted the widespread impact of the pandemic on surgical practice and training globally.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant challenges within healthcare systems, notably affecting surgical practice and training.
• Global surgical multidisciplinary teams are actively collaborating on research to shape the future of surgery post-pandemic.
• Recommendations include encouraging multidisciplinary ethics committees in surgical oncology centers and emphasizing innovative leadership and collaboration for the post-COVID-19 era.