[Security protocols adapted to COVID-19 in elective surgery thru 2021]

Medical personnel are among the populations with the most infections and morbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.

To evaluate patient and health personnel safety in anesthetic procedures of elective surgeries during COVID-19 pandemic in a 3rd level care Hospital in Puebla, Mexico.

Descriptive, prospective, analytical study in a 3rd level care unit of the Mexican Social Security Institute in Puebla, Mexico. Elective surgeries from all shifts and any specialty, whose staff signed informed consent, were included. The modified surgical safety checklist for COVID 19, from the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists, was applied.

170 surgeries were evaluated, the predominant specialties were oncosurgery (39.41%), urology (25.29%) and general surgery (14.71%). The most used anesthetic technique was general anesthesia (47.05%); 10.12% accomplished safe intubation/extubation protocols, presence of essential personnel in 6.34%. The use of personal protective equipment decreased during the stages of the pandemic, the use of face masks by medical personnel/patients is the most frequent (100%).

Security measures have decreased. Adequate security protocols must be continued to avoid new infections. Basic protection measures, the use of personal protective equipment and other protection strategies must persist.