Early observations from the initial impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on surgical services in the United Kingdom: a comprehensive review

A. Al Samaraee, A. Thwaini

Department of Surgery, Ashford and St. Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust, Chertsey, UK. ahmadas@doctors.org.uk

---

• Infectious Diseases

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a serious impact on health services. In this comprehensive review, the authors have explored the published evidence that has looked into the early effects of this impact on various aspects of delivering surgical services during the crises in the United Kingdom.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic literature search of the databases (Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, NICE guidelines and Google Scholar). The key words used were COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus, pandemic, surgery, surgical services. The retrieved studies were systematically reviewed and critically analyzed to construct this comprehensive review.

RESULTS: The surgical interventions have been focused on emergency and cancer surgery during the pandemic. Since the service situation is changing quickly; surgeons should be up to date with the local and national guidelines. It is vital to safeguard the specialized clinical professionals to fulfill their tasks through the pandemic; especially that another wave of the pandemic is still a possibility in the horizon. Attention should be given to surgical training and medical education during the crises by the training providers.

CONCLUSIONS: The aftermath period is still going to be a serious challenge to the service. Therefore, a strategy of shared responsibility, planning ahead with consideration of developing a transitional period should be adapted.

Free PDF Download