| dc.description.abstract | The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the infrastructure of the healthcare systems.
To cope with the pandemic, substantial changes were introduced to surgical practice and
education all over the world.
Methods
A scoping search in PubMed and Google scholar was done using the search terms:
“Coronavirus,” “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “nCoV-2019”, and “surgery.” They were
either searched individually or in combination. All relevant articles of any study design
(published within December 15, 2019, till the mid of June 2020), was included and
narratively discussed in this review.
Results
Sixty-six articles were reviewed in this article. Through these articles, we provide guidance
and recommendations on the preoperative preparation and safety precautions, intraoperative
precautions, postoperative precautions, postoperative complications (related to COVID-19),
surgical scheduling, emergency surgeries, elective surgeries, cancer surgery, psychological
impact on surgical teams, and surgical training during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion
COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly all aspects of surgical procedures, scheduling, and
staffing. Special precautions were taken before, during, or after surgeries. New treatment and
teaching modalities emerged in response to the pandemic. Psychological support and training
platforms are necessary for the surgical team. | |
