Facts, Views & Vision
in ObGyn

Journal of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy

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COVID–19: A Surgical Perspective for when the curve flattens

G.N. Moawad 1, J.S. Klebanoff 1, P. Tyan 2, J.I. Einarsson 3

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC;
2 Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC;
3 Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA.

Keywords:

COVID-19, surgery, flatten the curve, response


Published online: Aug 05 2020

Abstract

At the present time it is clear that our global healthcare community was not prepared to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals in the hardest hit areas have been transformed to COVID centres. Surgical societies have recommended postponing non-emergency surgery, and have given recommendations for triaging the ever- growing backlog of patients. However, simply resuming these non-emergency surgeries may lead the healthcare system into a second disaster. If healthcare policymakers around the world do not systematically consider how to resume normal surgical services, hospitals will be quickly overwhelmed, vital resources will be depleted, and patients and providers alike will face an increased exposure risk. This perspective serves to highlight certain aspects of returning to normal that physicians and hospital administrators alike must consider to avoid potential catastrophe.