Protecting Surgical Patient Safety During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

Recommendations for the safety of hospitalised patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

To map the recommendations for hospitalised patient safety in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

Scoping review using the method recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute.

DATA SOURCES

Databases: Medline, SCOPUS, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, LILACS, CINAHL and IBECS; grey literature platform: Google Scholar; and 11 official websites of leading healthcare institutions were searched on 27 April 2021 and updated on 11 April 2022.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

We included documents that present recommendations for the safety of hospitalised patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, published in any language, from 2020 onwards.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Data extraction was performed in pairs with consensus rounds. A descriptive analysis was carried out to present the main characteristics of the articles. Qualitative data from the extraction of recommendations were analysed through content analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-five documents were included. Most papers were identified as expert consensus (n=56, 44.8%). Forty-six recommendations were identified for the safety of hospitalised patients: 17 relating to the reorganisation of health services related to the flow of patients, the management of human and material resources and the reorganisation of the hospital environment; 11 on the approach to the airways and the prevention of the spread of aerosols; 11 related to sanitary and hygiene issues; 4 about proper use of personal protective equipment and 3 for effective communication.

CONCLUSIONS

The recommendations mapped in this scoping review present the best practices produced so far and serve as a basis for planning and implementing good practices to ensure safe hospital care, during and after COVID-19. The engagement of everyone involved in the care of hospitalised patients is essential to consolidate the mapped recommendations and provide dignified, safe and quality care.

Management of Outpatient Elective Surgery for Arthroplasty and Sports Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unforeseeable challenges to the orthopaedic community, especially arthroplasty and sports medicine subspecialities, as many surgeries were deemed nonessential and delayed. Although there is a glimpse of hope with the approval and distribution of vaccines, daily case numbers and death tolls continue to rise at the time of this review.

PURPOSE

To summarize the available literature on the management of elective sports medicine and arthroplasty procedures in the outpatient setting to gather a consolidated source of information.

STUDY DESIGN

Scoping review; Level of evidence, 5.

METHODS

A scoping review of 3 databases (PubMed, Embase, and OVID Medline) was performed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) checklist. All retrospective and prospective analyses, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, expert opinions, and societal guidelines were included for review, with 29 articles meeting the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Guidance for resumption of elective arthroplasty and sports medicine surgery and patient selection during the COVID-19 pandemic focuses on resource availability, patient fitness, and time sensitivity of the procedure, with patient and surgical team safety as the highest priority. Telemedicine and other innovative technology can be used to continue patient care during periods of delayed surgery through monitoring disease progression and offering nonoperative management options.

CONCLUSION

While the current societal recommendations provide guidance on safety protocols and patient prioritization, each orthopaedic practice must consider its unique situation and use evidence-based medicine when determining surgical timing and patient selection.