Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented global crisis. Surgical providers have been compelled to alter almost every aspect of their clinical practice. The primary focus is global public health security and targeted efforts to preventing the spread of the highly contagious and lethal disease. This article seeks to describe the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic on general surgical services. The communique also suggested novel initiatives to help surmount this challenging situation.
METHODS: Published articles discussing COVID-19 pandemic up to April 2020 were obtained for review using a manual library search (PubMed), Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google. Ultimately, 24 most pertinent articles were selected and critically reviewed in the final analysis.
CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic in some communities was overwhelming in nature and was characterized by the complete exhaustion of capital and human resources for healthcare. A successful outcome requires a concerted effort, good organizational structure, careful preparedness, and an optimal preventive approach in such an emerging mass casualty incident response. Besides, the utilization of surgical appliances and staff must be well pondered and balanced. Prioritizing and skeletonizing operational activities during a pandemic is crucial and, as per the WHO and other Surgical bodies guidelines. Social distancing, quarantine, and isolation are veritable public health tools. The much-awaited breakthrough in vaccination and therapeutic solutions, Research as well as technological development needed to combat the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic is achievable only through comprehensive international collaboration.
Keywords: COVID-19 Pandemic; Impact; Isolation; Social Distancing, Quarantine; Resources Management; Surgical Services.
Title: THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON GENERAL SURGICAL SERVICES
Author: Alegbeleye Bamidele Johnson, Coker Akinoso Olujimi, Ohene Jerome E., Oke Olatunbosun O., Jantchou Prevost, Mohammed Rana K.
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Research Publish Journal
