Anesthetic Consideration for Patients with Corona Virus Disease

Abstract

Suspension of elective surgical procedures was one of the first measures to mitigate hospital overload in anticipation of a surge in demand for critical care services during the COVID-19 pandemic [1-3]: many professional societies have released statements on delaying, restricting, and rescheduling non-urgent procedures, to preserve medical resources including healthcare providers, hospital capacities (mostly ICU resources), and personal protective equipment (PPE) [4,5]. This is an additional effect on healthcare induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and risk/benefit ratio, including consequences related to canceling or postponing the procedure should be considered for each patient.Patients affected by COVID-19 have higher perioperative morbidity and mortality, due to a high rate of ARDS, cardiac injury, kidney failure, and even deaths observed after surgical procedures [6,7]. In COVID-19 patients, who underwent elective or emergency surgery, male gender, age > 70 years, presence of comorbidities [American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades 3-5], and cancer surgery were associated with an increase of pulmonary complications and 30-day mortality [8]. Furthermore, preexist comorbidities-hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease-increase susceptibility in developing severe . Higher risk to be infected by COVID-19 and poor outcomes were reported also in immunocompromised and oncologic patients caused by respiratory viral infections: indeed conventional coronaviruses are often associated with higher rates of oxygen requirement and