Cardiothoracic robotic assisted surgery in times of COVID-19
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Cardiothoracic robotic assisted surgery in times of COVID‑19 Jef Van den Eynde1 · Senne De Groote1 · Robin Van Lerberghe1 · Raf Van den Eynde2 · Wouter Oosterlinck1 Received: 18 April 2020 / Accepted: 29 April 2020 © The Author(s) 2020
Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses an immense threat to healthcare systems worldwide. At a time when elective surgeries are being suspended and questions are being raised about how the remaining procedures on COVID19 positive patients can be performed safely, it is important to consider the potential role of robotic assisted surgery within the current pandemic. Recently, several robotic assisted surgery societies have issued their recommendations. To date, however, no specific recommendations are available for cardiothoracic robotic assisted surgery in COVID-19 positive patients. Here, we discuss the potential risks, benefits, and preventive measures that need to be taken into account when considering robotic assisted surgery for cardiothoracic indications in patients with confirmed COVID-19. It is suggested that robotic assisted surgery might have various advantages such as early recovery after surgery, shorter hospital stay, and reduced loss of blood and fluids as well as smaller incisions. However, electrosurgical and ultrasonic devices, as well as CO2 insufflation should be managed with caution to prevent the risk of aerosolization of viral particles. Keywords Cardiac surgery · COVID-19 · Robotic surgical procedures · SARS-CoV-2 · Thoracic surgery The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses an immense threat to healthcare systems worldwide. Its repercussions are also felt in multiple branches of surgery, with the majority of elective surgeries being suspended to prioritize the use of means, operating rooms, and intensive care beds for COVID-19 positive patients. Questions have been raised as to which surgical procedures can still take place and if they do, how they can be performed safely. In response to this situation, various surgical societies have already issued their recommendations on adequate patient selection and preparation, as well as measures that can be taken to minimize the spread of viral particles. More recently, the European Society of Urology—Robotic Urology Section (ERUS) [1], the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) [2], and the Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery (SERGS) [3] have published their statements on robotic assisted surgery * Wouter Oosterlinck [email protected] 1
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Research Unit of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
2
(RAS) in response to the current pandemic. However, to date no specific recommendations are available for cardiothoracic RAS in COVID-19 positive patients. It has to be noted that most guidelines recommend to suspend all elective procedures, first to crea
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