Perioperative Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Strategies at Three General Hospitals in Japan and a Narrative...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• The global Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues despite vaccine development.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis, has a false-negative rate exceeding 10%.
• A significant asymptomatic incubation period (up to 14 days) complicates infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and modify standard anesthetic practices, surgical scheduling, and operating room management.
• To propose safer and more effective perioperative management strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To protect patients and healthcare personnel from COVID-19 transmission in surgical settings.

Main Methods:

• Review of institutional experiences and existing guidelines on perioperative care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Analysis of challenges posed by PCR test limitations and asymptomatic infections.
• Development of evidence-based recommendations for modified anesthetic and surgical protocols.

Main Results:

• Identification of critical areas in perioperative care requiring adaptation.
• Proposal of specific modifications to anesthetic techniques and operating room protocols.
• Emphasis on enhanced infection control measures throughout the surgical pathway.

Conclusions:

• Standard perioperative protocols require significant modification to address the unique challenges of COVID-19.
• Implementing proposed strategies can enhance patient and staff safety.
• Proactive and adaptive perioperative management is crucial for controlling viral spread in healthcare settings.