SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused
a global pandemic that may infect millions in the United States alone. Given the baseline
rate of emergency operations in the United States,
1
thousands of COVID-19-positive patients are likely to require surgical interventions
during this outbreak.
Surgeons’ obligation, as always, will be to provide timely, high-quality surgical
care that achieves the best outcomes for patients. But if surgical teams are not adequately
protected from virus transmission during the COVID-19 outbreak, our health systems’
capacity to provide necessary care will collapse as more clinicians are forced into
quarantine. Moreover, protecting those who care for the acutely ill and injured is
the ethical decision to prevent anxiety and attrition.
In this review, we draw from published literature and clinical experience to highlight
key considerations for surgical teams operating on patients with suspected or known
COVID-19.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR SURGEONS
Surgical teams are at uniquely high risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Viral particles
have been found in nasal swabs, pharyngeal swabs, sputum, bronchial swabs, gastrointestinal
tissue, blood, and stool.
2,3
Surfaces in isolation rooms and even clinician shoe covers have tested positive as
well.
4,5
Moreover, the virus can spread via aerosols and fomites, and survive as aerosol for
at least 3 hours and on surfaces for days.
6
Studies of other viruses have found viral load in essentially all tissues and fluids
tested and even surgical smoke from the use of electrocautery.
7,8
Given these inherent risks, we outline key considerations for protecting surgical
teams below.
Structure Frequent Communication Before Key Events
Without detailed planning and protocols, transporting a patient with COVID-19 puts
clinicians and patients at high risk of viral transmission. Frequent, structured communication
in the form of huddles plays an integral role in mitigating this risk. A recent article
described the value of bringing together stakeholders to plan safe patient transport
and the process of getting the patient onto the operating room table.
9
Huddles should include surgeons, the anesthesia team, intensive care unit (ICU) attendings
and nurses, respiratory therapists, operating room (OR) nursing staff, environmental
services, security, and members of infection control. To standardize this process,
hospitals have developed transport protocols for the operative team
10,11
and are performing transport simulations to prepare for high numbers of potential
patients. Open communication between the surgical team and peri-operative staff allows
the group to transfer high-risk patients from wards to the OR and back with reduced
risk to the team.
Assume the Entire OR Will Be Contaminated
SARS-CoV-2 can survive for days on multiple operating room surfaces, including plastic
and stainless steel.
6
Though under ordinary conditions, operating rooms use positive pressure airflow, this
runs the risk of contaminating adjacent ORs and hallways—thus, operating rooms with
negative pressure capabilities are recommended.
12
When negative pressure rooms are unavailable, it is important to allow sufficient
time between cases for complete room air exchange—usually on the order of 30 minutes.
This time interval is based on the number of air changes per hour as described by
the CDC.
13
Items such as hospital charts, pagers, and cell phones must be left outside the OR
with contingencies to respond to time-sensitive pages. Additionally, anything that
was in contact with the patient, such as the ward bed, should also be considered contaminated.
If possible, a dedicated runner should be posted outside of the OR to obtain supplies
such as suture, surgical staplers, and energy devices as needed.
9
This eliminates the need for excessive movement into and out of the room by the circulating
nurse, and also minimizes consumption of personal protective equipment with every
entry and exit of the room. All single-use equipment (even unopened) in the room is
thrown away at the end of the case, and thus only what is currently needed and absolutely
required for the case should be brought in.
Choose Protective Equipment Effective Against Aerosolized Particles
Standard surgical personal protective equipment (PPE) includes a face shield, mask,
waterproof gown, double gloves, and shoe covers. There is some disagreement, however,
about the type of respiratory protection—N95 respirator, powered air purifying respirator
(PAPR), or standard surgical mask—that should be used for surgical procedures on patients
with COVID-19. Currently, we are not aware of any data to suggest that either the
N95 or PAPR are better to protect against COVID-19. PAPRs are generally used when
HCWs cannot achieve a proper fit with an N95; guidelines and mask specifications suggest
equivalence for aerosolized agents.
14
A surgical mask is capable of blocking gross inhalation of droplets, while a well-fitted
N95 respirator is additionally capable of filtering aerosols. This is of particular
interest to surgeons as aerosols have been identified from multiple surgical procedures,
including those that use electrocautery and high-speed tools,
15,16
and smoke from electrocautery has been shown to harbor intact bacterial and virus
particles.
7,8,17–19
As such, surgery can be considered an “aerosol generating procedure” (AGP),
20
especially with the use of electrocautery and/or laparoscopy.
The Centers for Disease Control in both the United States
20
and in China,
21
as well as the Association of Spanish Surgeons,
22
specifically recommend use of N95 respirators (preferably without valves) for surgeries
with AGPs on COVID-19 patients. Australia's Department of Health encourages N95 use
for “high-level contact” with infected patients.
23
A recent guideline in the Chinese Journal of Surgery presented recommendations for
emergency surgery in COVID-19 patients that specifically include the use of N95 masks
for anesthesia and surgical teams.
24
However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently published PPE guidance for healthcare
workers that did not specify that surgical procedures required N95 respirators.
25
Some groups may erroneously interpret the absence of laparoscopy or electrocautery
on the list to imply that most surgical procedures are not aerosol-generating. The
meta-analysis cited by the WHO guidance specifically noted that there were nearly
no surgical cases included in its analysis—and only open thoracotomy was extracted
as a data element.
26
In a time when there is limited information about transmission of COVID-19, aggressive
protection
4
with complete PPE for AGPs (which includes N95 masks) is in line with guidance from
multiple national organizations as well as the limited data available from previous
research.
Adapt Surgical Technique to Reduce Exposure Risks
It is unclear if laparoscopy increases surgeon risk of exposure to aerosolized viral
particles. Carbon dioxide insufflation, energy devices, and high-speed surgical equipment
generate significant aerosols. Though aerosols may be contained in the abdomen during
laparoscopy, when expelled under pressure—such as with release of pneumoperitoneum—they
may spread widely.
27,28
Care should be taken to minimize the possibility of inadvertent release and filter
the CO2 using existing technology.
24,29
However, this risk may not be unique to laparoscopy. Viral and bacterial aerosols
have been identified in surgical plumes in both laparoscopic and open procedures.
8,15,17,18
However, the use of a smoke evacuation device is in line with pre-existing OR guidelines
30
and may reduce aerosol exposure in both open and laparoscopic procedures. In the absence
of convincing data, when both open and laparoscopic approaches are clinically appropriate,
the safest approach may be the one that is most familiar to the surgeon and reduces
operative time.
Use a “Buddy System” for Donning and Doffing
Clinicians may actually be more likely to infect themselves when removing their PPE
than when caring for a contagious patient.
31
To avoid self-contamination, everyone in the OR must be able to put on (don) and remove
(doff) PPE correctly. Proper gowning and doffing procedures should be reviewed with
surgeons, residents, and OR staff before each case to ensure proper technique.
32,33
In addition, based on previous viral outbreaks, a “buddy system” has been recommended,
in which providers assist with and oversee the doffing of a colleague.
34
In our experience, the combined use of video-based instruction and a colleague's oversight
significantly improves anxiety among staff and may lead to less self-contamination
during PPE removal.
Concluding Thoughts
Though careful planning and appropriate PPE are essential, the most effective way
to prevent viral exposure is to avoid performing nonessential surgical procedures.
As recommended by the American College of Surgeons,
35
this limits the opportunities for patients and clinicians to become exposed, conserves
personal protective equipment, and preserves health system capacity. Nonoperative
approaches (eg, for appendicitis, diverticulitis, and cholecystitis) may be a safe
alternative to surgery for some patients. Many patients, however, will require emergency
operative intervention.
Our evaluation of the literature has provided more questions than answers with regard
to PPE choices and surgical technique. Recent clinical trials have focused on outpatient
clinicians,
36
but no study has effectively evaluated how best to protect operating surgeons. As
we better understand the epidemiology of transmission of these agents and methods
of prevention, there is a need to study and re-evaluate the information above.
Thus, the issues highlighted in this review should not be taken as official guidelines,
mandates, or standard operating procedures. The global community is learning more
about COVID-19 every day. Surgeons should seek guidance from their appropriate national,
local, and hospital guidelines and regulations—many of which are likely to change
over time as new information becomes available to the global community.
By presenting our best understanding of the literature, we are hoping to promote the
safety of surgical teams and, as a result, the patients who are relying on them for
life-saving surgical care.