TY - JOUR
T1 - Potential Risk and Safety Measures in Laparoscopy in COVID-19 Positive Patients
AU - Tummers, Fokkedien H.M.P.
AU - Draaisma, Werner A.
AU - Demirkiran, Ahmet
AU - Brouwer, Tammo A.
AU - Lagerveld, Brunolf W.
AU - van Schrojenstein Lantman, Esther S.
AU - Spijkers, Klaartje
AU - Coppus, Sjors F.P.J.
AU - Jansen, Frank Willem
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background. During the COVID-19 pandemic the question arises if laparoscopy, as an aerosol forming procedure, poses a potential risk for viral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to healthcare workers. Methods. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase and MEDLINE. Articles reporting information regarding COVID-19 or other relevant viruses and laparoscopy, surgical smoke, aerosols and viral transmission were included. Results. Although aerosols produced during laparoscopy do not originate from the respiratory tract, the main transmission route of SARS-CoV-2, research did show SARS-CoV-2 to be present in other body fluids. The transmission risk via this route is however considered very low. As previous research showed potential viral transmission during laparoscopy for viruses that spread through contaminated body fluids, there might be a potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during laparoscopy, albeit considered very small. Conclusion. Due to the small risk compared to widely known benefits of laparoscopy, there is no reason to replace laparoscopy by laparotomy due to COVID-19 infection. To avoid the potential small risk of viral transmission, additional safety measures are advised.
AB - Background. During the COVID-19 pandemic the question arises if laparoscopy, as an aerosol forming procedure, poses a potential risk for viral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to healthcare workers. Methods. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase and MEDLINE. Articles reporting information regarding COVID-19 or other relevant viruses and laparoscopy, surgical smoke, aerosols and viral transmission were included. Results. Although aerosols produced during laparoscopy do not originate from the respiratory tract, the main transmission route of SARS-CoV-2, research did show SARS-CoV-2 to be present in other body fluids. The transmission risk via this route is however considered very low. As previous research showed potential viral transmission during laparoscopy for viruses that spread through contaminated body fluids, there might be a potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during laparoscopy, albeit considered very small. Conclusion. Due to the small risk compared to widely known benefits of laparoscopy, there is no reason to replace laparoscopy by laparotomy due to COVID-19 infection. To avoid the potential small risk of viral transmission, additional safety measures are advised.
KW - COVID-19
KW - health care worker
KW - laparoscopy
KW - pneumoperitoneum
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - surgical smoke
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103860551&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/15533506211003527
DO - 10.1177/15533506211003527
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33788655
AN - SCOPUS:85103860551
SN - 1553-3506
VL - 29
SP - 73
EP - 79
JO - Surgical Innovation
JF - Surgical Innovation
IS - 1
ER -