Psychological impact on healthcare workers in obstetrics and gynecology in France in 18 French University Hospitals during the first Covid-19 lockdown: a prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: To assess the level of stress and anxiety in healthcare workers in the departments of obstetrics and gynecology in France during and after the first Covid-19 lockdown. METHODS: Two web-based cross-sectional surveys using several validated questionnaires (the HAD scale, the PSS-10 questionnaire and the Short Form 12 Questionnaire [SF-12]) were proposed to all staff of obstetrics and gynecologic departments in 18 French university hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 1565 respondents answered the first questionnaire and 1109 completed the second survey. Respondents reported greater levels of stress and impaired mental quality of life during the lockdown, followed by a significant improvement after the end of lockdown (respectively p < .0001 and p = .01). Anxiety was significantly higher among the older participants during the lockdown (p = .008). The potential putative factors related to impaired mental health status were personal protective equipment (PPE) deficit (<.0001), the fear of contracting the virus from the workplace and transmitting to their families (<.0001) and concerns about information given by media and hospitals (<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the heavy mental repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers could lead to the identification of high-risk in medical and non-medical staff and the implementation of targeted psychological monitoring program.

How can we minimize the potential risk of viral contamination during laparoscopic procedures for suspected or infected COVID-19 patients?

Several societies have raised the risk of viral transmission of SARS-Cov-2 due to surgical smoke during laparoscopic procedures in infected patients. We propose to discuss this issue and to describe specific measures during laparoscopic procedures and a new homemade closed filtration system for smoke evacuation. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, performing a laparoscopy should meet multi-modal requirements. Surgical smoke evacuation device may be an effective tool in reducing exposure to surgical smoke and aerosols.

Technics to put on and remove personal protective equipment before surgical or obstetrical procedure in suspected or infected COVID-19 patients (with video).

Coronavirus pandemic is widely changing our professional daily practice and preventive measures must be taken and taught. Before any planned gynaecological or obstetric surgery, specific technics to put on and safely remove personal protective equipment should be implemented in order to avoid any contamination for both patients and healthcare workers.