Perspectives and Recommendations for Laparoscopic Surgery in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

A bstrAct A new human coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 is currently causing a pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Healthcare institutions including surgical centers and their workers are in risk of contagion due to high exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The objective of the present manuscript is to review the available literature and elucidate the key points for maintaining safety in laparoscopic surgery during the pandemic. Currently, any patient who requires surgery and in whom the diagnosis of COVID-19 has not been ruled out should be treated as a positive patient and the correspondent safety measures should be taken. Surgical plume is a bioproduct that places healthcare workers who are exposed to it in a potential risk of acquiring different health conditions. There is no clear evidence to affirm that the exposure to surgical plume and pneumoperitoneum can cause COVID-19; nevertheless, as we do not know yet the real risk of transmission and infectivity of particles found in surgical smoke, it is recommended to take measures for a controlled evacuation of pneumoperitoneum and the use of a simple filtration system during laparoscopic surgery. We must understand that as our entire life changed with this pandemic, laparoscopic surgery should also change in particular aspects to give our patients the best treatment under the safest conditions as possible.