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The anesthesiologist and COVID-19

In December 2019, China reported clusters of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, epidemiologically related to transmission from animals. On December, 31, 2019, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of China described a new coronavirus and announced the first stage of an outbreak.11 Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, et al. A novel coronavirus from patients with pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:727-33. In addition to coronavirus SARS-CoV and coronavirus MERS-CoV, the world would be facing a new virus that was named SARS-CoV-2, which could lead to a severe acute respiratory syndrome and was named by the World Health Organization COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019).22 Guan WJ, Ni ZY, Hu Y, et al. Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032...

The current scenario was not initially anticipated, but China began presenting numbers that grew on an exponential scale, which led to the isolation of the province in which the city of Wuhan is located. While the situation seemed isolated to China, with a few cases outside the original region, on January 31, 2020 two cases were diagnosed in Rome, Italy.33 Severgnini C. Coronavirus, primi due casi in Italia “sono due cinesi in vacanza a Roma” sono arrivati a Milano il 23 gennaio Itália: Corriere Della Serra; 2020. https://www.corriere.it/cronache/20_gennaio_30/coronavirus-italia-corona-9d6dc436-4343-11ea-bdc8-faf1f56f19b7.shtml?refresh_ce-cp[acessadoem 20 de março de 2020].
https://www.corriere.it/cronache/20_genn...
The outbreak in Lombardy, in northern Italy, began with a 38-year-old Italian who presented to the hospital with flu-like symptoms. After this, two elderly individuals died after having been to the same hospital.44 Visetti G. Codogno, i medici dell'ospedale in trincea: “Quelle accuse del premier fanno più male della malattia” Itália: La Repubblica; 2020. https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/02/26/news/codogno_i_medici_dell_ospedale_in_trincea_quelle_accuse_del_premier_fanno_piu_male_della_malattia_-249593374/ [acessado em 20 de março de 2020].
https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/0...
At the end of February, there were already over 400 confirmed cases in Lombardy.55 Ananasso A, De Stabile E, Gagliardi G, et al. Coronavirus in Italia: tutte le notizie di febbraio Itália: La Repubblica; 2020. https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/02/22/news/coronavirus_in_italia_aggiornamento_ora_per_ora-249241616/ [acessado em 20 de março de 2020].
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On March 8, 2020, Italy already registered over 5800 cases and 233 deaths.66 Coronavirus: quarter of Italy's population put in quarantine as virus reaches. Washington, DC: The Guardian; 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/08/coronavirus-italy-quarantine-virus-reaches-washington-dc [acessado em 20 de março de 2020].
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/m...
The quarantine decreed for northern Italy was soon expanded to the entire country, determining that citizens confine themselves until the beginning of April, 2020.77 Coronavirus: Italy extends emergency measures nationwide. Reino Unido: BBC News; 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51810673 [accessed 20.03.20].
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51...

Even with the containment measures in China and in Italy, there was a global expansion of transmission, and in mid-March, 2020 the Johns Hopkins University specialized site disclosed the confirmation of over 200 thousand cases in over 160 countries and territories, with over nine thousand deaths and 82 thousand individuals recovered.88 Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. Coronavirus Resource Center; 2020. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html [accessed 20.03.20]
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On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 pandemic.99 World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report - 510; March 2020. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200311-sitrep-51-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=1ba62e57_10 [accessed 20.03.20].
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Italy is currently the most affected country, with over 30 thousand cases and over 3000 deaths. WHO declared Europe the new epicenter of the Pandemic.88 Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. Coronavirus Resource Center; 2020. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html [accessed 20.03.20]
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html...

The virus arrived officially to Brazil on February 25, 2020, along with the diagnosis of a 61-year old man, coming from Lombardy, and who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the city of São Paulo.1010 G1 São Paulo. Ministério da Saúde investiga possível paciente com coronavírus em SP; caso foi para contraprova. https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2020/02/25/ministerio-da-saude-investiga-possivel-paciente-com-coronavirus-em-sp-caso-foi-para-contraprova.ghtml [acessado em 20 de março de 2020]
https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/notici...
When this editorial was written, in Brazil there were over 600 cases and at least six deaths already.88 Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. Coronavirus Resource Center; 2020. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html [accessed 20.03.20]
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html...
Although anyone can become ill, there is already enough evidence showing that the elderly, mainly those with chronic conditions such as cardiopathies and pneumopathies, are the most vulnerable group to the most severe forms of the disease and comprise the great majority of deaths.1111 Villela DAM. The value of mitigating epidemic peaks of COVID-19 for more effective public health responses [Originally published as an editorial in Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical vol. 53]. [online]: SciELO in Perspective; March 2020. https://blog.scielo.org/en/2020/03/19/the-value-of-mitigating-epidemic-peaks-of-covid-19-for-more-effective-public-health-responses/#.XnSeEohKhPY [accessed 20.03.20].
https://blog.scielo.org/en/2020/03/19/th...

The incubation period of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be four to seven days.1212 Greenland JR, Michelow MD, Martin LW, et al. COVID-19 Infection: implications for perioperative and critical care physicians. Anesthesiology. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000003303.
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There is a spectrum of clinical manifestations related to COVID-19, from asymptomatic infection to severe respiratory failure. The main symptoms described are fever, myalgia, fatigue, dry cough and dyspnea.1313 He F, Deng Y, Li W. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): what we know? J Med Virol. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25766.
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Uncommon symptoms, also described, include purulent sputum, headache, hemoptysis and diarrhea. Clinical presentations can be classified as mild, moderate or severe, according to the presence and severity of symptoms, as described in Table 1.

Table 1
COVID-19 associated clinical symptoms.

The mean progression period of the disease, between onset of symptoms and beginning of dyspnea, is eight days, and for mechanical ventilation to be required 10.5 days. Common laboratory findings include leucopenia and lymphopenia. Other findings may include increased lactic desidrogenase and creatinophosphokinase, in addition to increased liver enzymes. Hematological alterations can be related to bone marrow suppression, sequestration of lymphocytes or apoptosis.1414 Chen RF, Chang JC, Yeh WT, et al. Role of vascular cell adhesion molecules and leukocyte apoptosis in the lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Microbes Infect. 2006;8:122-7.

Most patients present mild symptoms, although 15% can progress to respiratory distress syndrome, renal or heart failure, or multiple organ failure between 7 and 10 days after hospitalization.

Another presentation that can occur is development with abdominal symptoms, probably related to expression of the angiotensin II receptor in the small bowel. These patients can play an important role in the spread of the disease, because they do not present the symptoms most commonly associated with COVID-19, and eventually are not considered as at risk and are not tested, and can thus, extensively infect healthcare teams.1515 Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, et al. Clinical characteristics of 138 hospitalized patients with 2019 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia in Wuhan China. JAMA. 2020;323:1061-9.

Lung changes are found in practically all inpatients. The radiological pattern frequently observed is bilateral and peripheral frosted glass opacity. With the progression of the disease, the radiological pattern becomes a “reversed halo”.

There still are no specific recommendations for mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 patients. The recommendations are the same protective pulmonary measures used for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), such as tidal volume ≤ 6 mL/kg of predicted weight, respiratory rate ≤ 35/min, plateau pressure ≤ 30 cmH2O and PEEP ≥ 5 cmH2O.1616 Fan E, Del Sorbo L, Goligher EC, et al. An official American Thoracic Society/European Society of Intensive Care Medicine/Society of Critical Care Medicine clinical practice guideline: mechanical ventilation in adult patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017;195:1253-63. Physiological targets include PaO2 between 55 and 80 mmHg, with SpO2 between 88 and 95% and permissive hypercapnia. There is no recommendation for a specific ventilation mode, putting the patient in the prone position is recommended, but use of ECMO still presents conflicting data.1717 Petrucci N, De Feo C. Lung protective ventilation strategy for the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003844.pub4. CD003844.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003...

18 Amato MB, Meade MO, Slutsky AS, et al. Driving pressure and survival in the acute respiratory distress syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:747-55.
-1919 Rhodes A, Evans LE, Alhazzani W, et al. Surviving sepsis campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock: 2016. Crit Care Med. 2017;45:486-552. The systematic use of corticoids has shown increased mortality, and routine use of β2-agonists is not recommended.2020 Lansbury L, Rodrigo C, Leonardi-Bee J, et al. Corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of influenza: an updated Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care Med. 2020;48:e98-106. Still along the line of following protective ventilation recommendations, more conservative volume replenishment management and recruitment maneuvers are indicated.1919 Rhodes A, Evans LE, Alhazzani W, et al. Surviving sepsis campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock: 2016. Crit Care Med. 2017;45:486-552.

We still do not know all transmission mechanisms of COVID-19, which make social prevention measures and measures among health professionals difficult to be implemented. Health professionals cannot isolate themselves at home, nor practice strict interpersonal distancing, and are at the front line in treating and guiding the exposed or infected population. In this scenario, anesthesiologists are essential parts in the care chain of these patients.

The virus is known to spread by aerosol of respiratory secretions, mainly of symptomatic patients, in which the viral load tends to be higher. Professionals who work in sectors in which there are critical patients or where they handle the airway of virus carriers certainly are those most exposed inside the hospital, and anesthesiologists are considered as part of this group.2121 Teleman MD, Boudville IC, Heng BH, et al. Factors associated with transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome among health-care workers in Singapore. Epidemiol Infect. 2004;132:797-803.,2222 Ling L, Joynt GM, Lipman J, et al. COVID-19: a critical care perspective informed by lessons learnt from other viral epidemics. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.accpm.2020.02.002.
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It is known from previous experience from other coronavirus epidemics and from the 2009 influenza A pandemic that procedures that involve airways, such as tracheal intubation, tracheal extubation, tracheal suction, bronchoscopy and disconnecting mechanical ventilators, have a higher risk of transmission by respiratory aerosols.2323 Tran K, Cimon K, Severn M, et al. Aerosol generating procedures and risk of transmission of acute respiratory infections to healthcare workers: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2012;7:e35797.

Health professionals, mainly those who deal with critical patients or those who handle airways of infected patients or with suspected infection, should be stringently protected. Critical care units should be prepared for patients who will develop signs of severity, and measures have already been implemented and learned during the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV epidemics.2424 Hirose R, Nakaya T, Naito Y, et al. Situations leading to reduced effectiveness of current hand hygiene against infectious mucus from influenza virus-infected patients. mSphere. 2019;4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00474-19.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00474-...
,2525 Rello J, Tejada S, Userovici C, et al. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): a critical care perspective beyond China. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.accpm.2020.03.001.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.accpm.2020.0...

Wong et al. recently published in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia the experience of a major hospital in Singapore on the response of the Anesthesiology team to this new coronavirus epidemic.2626 Wong J, Goh QY, Tan Z, et al. Preparing for a COVID-19 pandemic: a review of operating room outbreak response measures in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01620-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...
Recommendations included decrease in elective surgeries as a way of increasing total hospital capacity, in addition to preserving the workforce of physicians. Measures to decrease unnecessary personnel circulating in the hospital and appropriate triage of employees and patients with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 were implemented. Measures to enhance communication among physicians and other health professionals were also implemented, in addition to material and a direct channel to care for professionals who reported anxiety or presented signs of COVID-19 epidemic-related burnout.2626 Wong J, Goh QY, Tan Z, et al. Preparing for a COVID-19 pandemic: a review of operating room outbreak response measures in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01620-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...
,2727 Wong JEL, Leo YS, Tan CC. COVID-19 in Singapore-current experience: critical global issues that require attention and action. JAMA. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2467.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2467...

The major challenge to anesthesiologists is the care for patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. All anesthesiology services should have well defined flows and processes for the care of these patients and to protect professionals involved. Although, in times of pandemic all patients may pose a risk of being virus carriers, a dedicated operation room is recommended for the care of critical patients, mainly if negative pressure rooms, ideal for these scenarios, are not possible. As the entire routine of the surgical block will be changed, if there are suspected or confirmed patients, appropriate training, systematic checking, accessible checklists and dedicated areas for gowning and ungowning should be implemented.2828 Ti LK, Ang LS, Foong TW, et al. What we do when a COVID-19 patient needs an operation: operating room preparation and guidance. Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01617-4.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...
,2929 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation summary EUA: Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsummary.html [accessed20.03.20].
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nco...

Given several Brazilian states have already confirmed community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the adoption of measures to prevent contact with aerosols is recommended. The Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology published recommendations for the use of personal protection equipment (PPE) that are in compliance with international recommendations.3030 O coronavírus e o anestesiologista. Rio de Janeiro: Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia; 2020. https://www.sbahq.org/ebook/ [acessado em 20 de marc¸o de 2020].
https://www.sbahq.org/ebook/...
During airway handling which can generate aerosols, wearing masks appropriate to the risk of the patient, protection goggles, disposable gowns and gloves are recommended. Basic PPE for the care of patients with suspected or confirmed infection include N95 masks, protection goggles (or complete helmet), caps, gowns and gloves, and wearing two gloves can be considered.2626 Wong J, Goh QY, Tan Z, et al. Preparing for a COVID-19 pandemic: a review of operating room outbreak response measures in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01620-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...
,2929 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation summary EUA: Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/summary.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsummary.html [accessed20.03.20].
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nco...
,3131 Peng PW, Wong DT, Bevan D, et al. Infection control and anesthesia: lessons learned from the Toronto SARS outbreak. Can J Anaesth. 2003;50:989-97. It is recommended that the entire team undergo retraining of gowning and ungowning.

In order to prepare an operation room to receive a suspected or infected patient, only what is essential should stay in the room, therefore few items will need to be disinfected, reprocessed or disposed of at the end of the procedure.3232 Tompkins BM, Kerchberger JP. Special article: personal protective equipment for care of pandemic influenza patients: a training workshop for the powered air purifying respirator. Anesth Analg. 2010;111:933-45. Disposable materials should be used whenever possible and any equipment touched by many individuals should be covered by plastic - including monitors, anesthesia equipment, ultrasound devices and computers - with terminal disinfection after the end of the procedure.2626 Wong J, Goh QY, Tan Z, et al. Preparing for a COVID-19 pandemic: a review of operating room outbreak response measures in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01620-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...
,2727 Wong JEL, Leo YS, Tan CC. COVID-19 in Singapore-current experience: critical global issues that require attention and action. JAMA. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2467.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2467...

In order to avoid unnecessary transportation of patients with suspected or confirmed infection and of professionals involved in anesthetic-surgical care, patients should be assessed and recovered inside the operation room dedicated toward that end.3131 Peng PW, Wong DT, Bevan D, et al. Infection control and anesthesia: lessons learned from the Toronto SARS outbreak. Can J Anaesth. 2003;50:989-97.,3333 Chee VW, Khoo ML, Lee SF, et al. Infection control measures for operative procedures in severe acute respiratory syndrome-related patients. Anesthesiology. 2004;100:1394-8. Several publications recommend that the respiratory circuit and soda lime be disposed of after the procedure.3434 Kamming D, Gardam M, Chung F. Anaesthesia and SARS. Br J Anaesth. 2003;90:715-8.

35 Tan TK. How severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) affected the department of anaesthesia at Singapore General Hospital. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2004;32:394-400.
-3636 Wilkes AR, Benbough JE, Speight SE, et al. The bacterial and viral filtration performance of breathing system filters. Anaesthesia. 2000;55:458-65. All professionals who are in contact with the patient should take a bath and change scrubs.

Only urgent and emergency surgeries should be performed during the critical period of the pandemic. Urgent heart and oncology surgeries on patients with suspected infection can be postponed for some hours to wait for a confirmation PCR test for SARS-CoV-2.3232 Tompkins BM, Kerchberger JP. Special article: personal protective equipment for care of pandemic influenza patients: a training workshop for the powered air purifying respirator. Anesth Analg. 2010;111:933-45. In Brazil, the Federal Council of Medicine, the National Supplementary Health Agency and the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology, in agreement with the Brazilian College of Surgeons and the Brazilian Medical Association, recommend that surgeries, diagnostic procedures and elective outpatient care be temporarily interrupted.3030 O coronavírus e o anestesiologista. Rio de Janeiro: Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia; 2020. https://www.sbahq.org/ebook/ [acessado em 20 de marc¸o de 2020].
https://www.sbahq.org/ebook/...
,3737 Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar. ANS orienta: consultas, exames e cirurgias que não sejam urgentes devem ser adiados. http://www.ans.gov.br/aans/noticias-ans/consumidor/5426-ans-orienta-consultas-exames-e-cirurgias-que-nao-sejam-urgentes-devem-ser-adiados [acessado em 20 de março de 2020]
http://www.ans.gov.br/aans/noticias-ans/...
,3838 Conselho Federal de Medicina. Posicão do Conselho Federal de Medicina sobre a pandemia de COVID-19: contexto, análise de medidas e recomendações. http://portal.cfm.org.br/images/PDF/covid-19cfm.pdf [acessado em 20 de março de 2020].
http://portal.cfm.org.br/images/PDF/covi...

During anesthesia, all measures to keep patient safety and prevent the spread of the infection should be taken. As it is known that handling the airway of patients with suspected or confirmed infection can generate aerosols, any unnecessary handling, positive pressure ventilation with facial mask, open circuit suction and patient coughing during tracheal intubation or extubation should be avoided. If regional anesthesia is possible, the patient should be kept with a surgical mask during the procedure. Given awake intubation and atomization of airways can generate many aerosols,3939 Peng PWH, Ho PL, Hota SS. Outbreak of a new coronavirus: what anaesthetists should know. Br J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.02.008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.02....
such procedures should be avoided. If supplementary oxygenation is indicated for non-intubated patients, a simple nasal catheter under a surgical mask should be used, and high-flow catheters or non-invasive ventilation are counter-indicated.3232 Tompkins BM, Kerchberger JP. Special article: personal protective equipment for care of pandemic influenza patients: a training workshop for the powered air purifying respirator. Anesth Analg. 2010;111:933-45.,3434 Kamming D, Gardam M, Chung F. Anaesthesia and SARS. Br J Anaesth. 2003;90:715-8.,3939 Peng PWH, Ho PL, Hota SS. Outbreak of a new coronavirus: what anaesthetists should know. Br J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.02.008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.02....

Using HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) type filters between facial masks and the Y respiratory circuit is recommended, in addition to another filter between the expiratory limb and the anesthesia machine.2626 Wong J, Goh QY, Tan Z, et al. Preparing for a COVID-19 pandemic: a review of operating room outbreak response measures in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01620-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...
Tracheal intubation, preferably with a video laryngoscope, is the technique of choice to control airways, and more experienced anesthesiologists should perform the intubation. All circuit extensors should be placed before intubation to avoid unnecessary disconnections. Pre-oxygenation should be performed with an appropriate seal between the patient's face and the mask, and intubation should be fast sequence to avoid positive pressure ventilation under a facial mask. Patients should be intubated to a deep plane and with an appropriate neuromuscular blockade to avoid coughing.2626 Wong J, Goh QY, Tan Z, et al. Preparing for a COVID-19 pandemic: a review of operating room outbreak response measures in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01620-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...
,3434 Kamming D, Gardam M, Chung F. Anaesthesia and SARS. Br J Anaesth. 2003;90:715-8. During extubation, care should be taken to avid coughing and spread of aerosols. Anti-emetics to minimize risk of vomiting and consequent coughing during anesthetic recovery is recommended. Intravenous lidocaine immediately before extubation can also contribute to minimizing the occurrence of coughing.4040 Aminnejad R, Salimi A, Saeidi M. Lidocaine during intubation and extubation in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01627-2.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...
Oropharyngeal suction should be performed with a rigid suction tube to avoid contamination of part of the face by the flexible suction tube. Post-anesthesia recovery should be done in the operation room, and if transportation of the intubated patient to the intensive care unit is required, closed circuit ventilation should be used and unnecessary disconnections avoided.2626 Wong J, Goh QY, Tan Z, et al. Preparing for a COVID-19 pandemic: a review of operating room outbreak response measures in a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. Can J Anaesth. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-01620-9.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-020-016...

Anesthesiologists are experts in airway management and are on the front line of treatment of many patients with COVID-19; that is why they have to be prepared to protect themselves during airway handling. An analysis of over 70 thousand cases in China showed that 3.8% of individuals infected were health professionals, 14.8% of which considered severe, with five deaths reported.4141 Wu Z, McGoogan JM. Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: summary of a report of 72,314 cases from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. JAMA. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2648.
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Many lessons were learned with previous coronavirus epidemics and with recent experience with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in China and Italy. Given they are the most well-trained individuals to approach airways, anesthesiologists should also protect themselves appropriately while handling patients with COVID-19.

Since the first coronavirus epidemic, science has never been so globally connected. During the first coronavirus outbreak, SARS-CoV, there had already been five deaths when China told the world. In the current pandemic, no patients had died yet when China reported to the World Health Organization. The SARS-CoV-2 virus was identified one week after the new outbreak was reported.4141 Wu Z, McGoogan JM. Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: summary of a report of 72,314 cases from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. JAMA. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2648.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2648...
In Brazil, only 48 hours after the first infection was reported in the city of São Paulo, Professor Ester Sabino's team, from the School of Medicine of São Paulo University, sequenced the SARS-CoV-2 genome, helping to understand the proliferation of the virus and its mutations, in addition to helping global science to fight the disease.4242 Chaves LR. Ester Cerdeira Sabino: na cola do coronavírus. São Paulo: Pesquisa FAPESP. https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/2020/03/12/ester-cerdeira-sabino-na-cola-do-coronavirus/ [acessado em 20 de março de 2020].
https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/2020/0...

Health professionals will be greatly affected by this pandemic, and this has been observed in previous scenarios. There already were over 100 health professionals infected in a single institution and in quarantine due to COVID-19. Telemedicine can contribute to minimizing the risk, and the current sanitary crisis can contribute to speeding up the adoption of video consultations in our environment. Many American hospitals already have telemedicine triage systems at emergency rooms, which can be performed by physicians and other professionals in quarantine, leaving other professionals to care for critical patients.4343 Hollander JE, Carr BG. Virtually Perfect? Telemedicine for Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2003539.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2003539...

Coordinating and preparing for a pandemic is not simple. Recommendations should come from the higher level of governance and be coordinated in hierarchal way. The Ministry of Health is playing a major role in this coordination, but every hospital and Anesthesiology service should implement their own protocols following recommendations from the higher levels. Surgical block teams are considered complex and high performance, and the knowledge of contamination prevention measures, ongoing surveillance, appropriate use of PPE and appropriate gowning and ungowning training and retraining should be implemented, and are extremely important.

Investments in public health and in science should continue, including basic science, and translational to clinical research. Several research groups are pursuing a vaccine capable of curbing the ongoing expansion of the disease and rapidly decreasing related mortality. Adequate investments can contribute to the coordination, cooperation and creation of international research networks to attain an appropriate response to outbreaks and pandemics. There are still countless questions without answers, given research and treatment results are being developed as the pandemic spreads. Although we are still facing the unknown, some general recommendations, in addition to technical recommendations, have already been well established: social isolation and protection of the most vulnerable individuals are mandatory, and the health of anesthesiologists is the most precious good at this time of crisis, due to their role in the frontline to face COVID-19.

Appropriate communication and quality information are essential throughout the pandemic process. Incorrect and fake information are frequently disclosed, and disinformation is dangerous and can weaken the correct collaboration of society and the global outcome of the crisis. In order to contribute to better information in times of pandemics, following, we list the main links of scientific journals and domestic and global organizations that are making correct COVID-19-related information available, in an ongoing and updated flow, and with free access.

Links of interest

JAMA - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/pages/coronavirus-alert

NEJM - https://www.nejm.org/coronavirus

WHO - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

The Lancet - https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus

CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

SBA - https://coronavirus.sbahq.org

ANESTHESIOLOGY - https://anesthesiology.pubs.asahq.org/ss/coronavirus.aspx

University of Toronto - https://www.anesthesia.utoronto.ca/news/coronavirus-and-safety-precautions

WFSA - https://www.wfsahq.org/resources/coronavirus

UpToDate - https://www.uptodate.com/contents/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    10 Aug 2020
  • Date of issue
    Mar-Apr 2020
Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia R. Professor Alfredo Gomes, 36, 22251-080 Botafogo RJ Brasil, Tel: +55 21 2537-8100, Fax: +55 21 2537-8188 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: bjan@sbahq.org