Subject(s)
Ascitic Fluid/virology , Betacoronavirus/genetics , Cholecystectomy/methods , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Critical Illness , DNA, Viral/analysis , Gallbladder Diseases/complications , Pneumonia, Viral/virology , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/complications , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Disease Transmission, Infectious/prevention & control , Gallbladder Diseases/surgery , Humans , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has escalated rapidly to a global pandemic stretching healthcare systems worldwide to their limits. Surgeons have had to immediately react to this unprecedented clinical challenge by systematically repurposing surgical wards. PURPOSE: To provide a detailed set of guidelines developed in a surgical ward at University Hospital Wuerzburg to safely accommodate the exponentially rising cases of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients without compromising the care of emergency surgery and oncological patients or jeopardizing the well-being of hospital staff. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic prioritization of SARS-CoV-2 infected and surgical patient groups is key to preserving life while maintaining high surgical standards. Strictly segregating patient groups in emergency rooms, non-intensive care wards and operating areas prevents viral spread while adequately training and carefully selecting hospital staff allow them to confidently and successfully undertake their respective clinical duties.