Implications in Neuroanesthesia during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

COVID-19, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, has generated more than 11,000,000 cases and 500,000 deaths worldwide. The risk of operation in aerosol-generating procedures and stay in prolonged procedures has impacted neurosurgical and endovascular care, generating important implications for neuroanesthesiologists and perioperative care in general due to the risk of infection of patients and staff and the association of SARS-CoV-2 with neurosurgical patients. Objective. Present a series of recommendations based on current evidence on the implications for neuroanesthesiologists and the perioperative management of the neurocritical and neurosurgical patient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods. Bibliographic review through systematic search of keywords related to neuroanesthesiology and perioperative management of the neurosurgical and neurocritical patient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results. The neurosurgical and neurocritical patient poses important challenges that imply the capacity for rapid response, establishment of management protocols, multidisciplinary stratification, availability of infrastructure, PPE and personnel to ensure their care. Conclusions. The role of the neuroanesthesiologist is fundamental in the organization and management of the pandemic;it must be kept safe, protected and updated in the specific considerations of the neurocritical patient in this "new normal". © 2021 Instituto Nacional de Neurologia y Neurocirurgia. All rights reserved.