Roadmap to Restarting Elective Surgeries Post Covid 19 Pandemic - An Anesthetists Perspective

Abstract

Corona Virus Disease (COVID 19) is a respiratory infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 or COVID 19 virus which struck the world in November 2019 rapidly spreading and attaining the form of a pandemic by March 2020.The disease was officially named as Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) by WHO on February 11, 2020.Spread is predominantly through respiratory droplet and close contacts with infected individuals. Airborne transmission is possible during aerosol generating medical procedures as the virus is abundantly present in nasopharyngeal, salivary secretions and body fluids of affected patients. During the pre-peaking, peak and plateau phase of the epidemic, non-emergency surgeries and invasive procedures took a backseat as all resources of healthcare providers were put to combat the disease. As the pandemic fades away the need of adapting the healthcare facilities and restarting elective surgeries has to be addressed. In this article we try to highlight the various challenges faced by the surgeons, anesthetists and healthcare professionals to restart elective surgical work. The strategies to overcome these hurdles are also discussed.