Organization of thoracic surgical services during the COVID pandemic
Author
Leow, Lowell
Ramanathan, Kollengode
Kofidis, Theo
Chung Tam, John Kit
Mithiran, Harish
Institutions
Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 presented an unprecedented challenge for healthcare workers and
systems around the world. Healthcare systems have adapted differently in terms of
pandemic planning of regular services, adopting infection control measures and prioritising essential hospital services in the context of a burgeoning COVID-19 patient load and
inevitable surge.
Methods: We performed a review on current evidence and share our practices at a teaching
hospital in Singapore.
Results: We outline principles and make recommendations for continuity of delivering
essential thoracic surgical services during this current outbreak.
Conclusions: The maintenance and provision of thoracic surgery services in this context
requires good preplanning and vigilance to infection control measures across all levels