key: cord-0970268-vc3658d9
authors: Palomba, Giuseppe; Dinuzzi, Vincenza Paola; Aprea, Giovanni; De Palma, Giovanni Domenico
title: Management strategies and role of telemedicine in a Surgery Unit during COVID-19 outbreak
date: 2020-05-30
journal: Int J Surg
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.05.081
sha: da0e56f5ecd1e02f550244b26b9ae685c0facb3d
doc_id: 970268
cord_uid: vc3658d9

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All authors disclose any conflicts of interest

This paper was not a research study, so ethical approval not required.

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Palomba Giuseppe: Study conception, writing and final approval of the paper. Dinuzzi Vincenza Paola: Writing of the paper De Palma Giovanni Domenico: writing and final approval of the paper Aprea Giovanni: Study conception and final approval of the paper

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Prof. Giovanni Aprea is the Guarantor of this corrispondence As used from most structures, we designed an exhaustive telephonic triage questionnaire that is performed one day before access [4] . With this questionnaire we screen patients for common The initial difficulties encountered once the lockdown was activated were:

-ten beds in the intensive care unit of our institute were dedicated to COVID patients in serious conditions, thus leading to a reduction in postoperative intensive care places, creating problems in the therapeutic choice of patients with severe comorbidities;

-and the lack of blood components at the transfusion medicine center. Healthcare personnel immediately made available for the donation.

We limit patients' visitors to end of life situations and to communicate with relatives we stimulate use of phone. When necessary, communications are performed by most experienced surgeon.?

All operations are performed with protective glasses, waterproof sterile surgical gowns, FFP2 or FFP3 masks with one surgical mask on it, hair cover and shoe cover.

For postoperative care, we have implemented use of telemedicine through WhatsApp and Skype, while outpatient clinic visits are limited for emergency. This tool has been especially useful in stoma care with an excellent satisfaction rating.

In conclusion, with this rapid change in primary care, it is very important to design appropriate procedures and have a clear internal protocol to ensure high-care surgicals even during COVID-19

outbreak. Furthermore, during this pandemic, telemedicine in surgery should also be encouraged because it could be an innovative tool for the future.

Provenance and peer review not commissioned, internally reviewed

COVID-19: How can a department of general surgery survive in a pandemic? Surgery

Telephonic triage before surgical ward admission and telemedicine during COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. Effective and easy procedures to reduce in-hospital positivity

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.