Articles: personal-protective-equipment.
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Lessons from previous pandemics emphasise the importance of consistent information and advice for healthcare workers (HCWs), particularly in relation to their use of personal protective equipment (PPE). ⋯ While some recommendations expand on the national guidelines, the Australian Government's efforts to work in concert with states, territories and peak professional and advocacy organisations are evident in the broadly consistent recommendations for the use of PPE by HCWs and other people working in healthcare settings across the country. The overall consistency of recommendations for the use of PPE shows a nationwide attempt to support and protect the healthcare workforce and the Australian community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Case Reports
Lessons from China when Performing Neurosurgical Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a substantial threat to the health of health care personnel on the front line of caring for patients with COVID-19. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have announced that all nonessential planned surgeries and procedures should be postponed until further notice and only urgent procedures should proceed. Neurologic surgeries and procedures should not be delayed under the circumstance in which it is essential at saving a life or preserving functioning of the central nervous system. ⋯ Following the proposed guidance, urgent neurosurgical surgeries and procedures can be safely performed for the benefit of critical patients with or suspected for COVID-19.
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The current COVID-19 pandemic is challenging healthcare systems at a global level. We provide a practical strategy to reorganize pathways of emergency and elective colorectal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Evidence on the management of patients needing surgery for colorectal conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic is currently lacking. Lessons learnt from healthcare professionals that have managed high volumes of surgical patients during the pandemic could be useful to mitigate some risks and reduce exposure to other patients, public and healthcare staff.
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The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the medical and surgical healthcare systems. With the ongoing need for urgent and emergency colorectal surgery, including surgery for colorectal cancer, several questions pertaining to operating room (OR) utilization and techniques needed to be rapidly addressed. ⋯ This paper evaluates the issues surrounding these challenges including the OR environment and AGPs which are germane to surgical practices around the world. Although there is no single universally agreed upon set of answers, we have presented what we think is a balanced cogent description of logical safe approaches to colorectal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.