Cirugía de cardiopatías congénitas en España durante el estado de alarma por COVID-19

INTRODUCTION-OBJECTIVES: We live in exceptional times caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic. Although clinical involvement of children and patients with congenital heart disease are not frequent, the emergency care of adults with COVID-19 has almost collapsed our healthcare system. Consequently, the whole standard activity has been minimized during this period. In this manuscript we analyse the reduction of our congenital heart surgery over these 2 months of state of alarm, and we propose strategies to return to normal. METHODS: From our Society congenital heart disease working group, a survey was carried out in Spanish congenital heart disease surgery hospitals, in order to find out the decrease in activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during the time period from March-13 to May-13, 2020. RESULTS: During the pandemic, congenital heart disease surgery was partially reduced, stepping with the most urgent cases and minimizing the scheduled activity. Compared to the same period in 2019, 51% less major surgery and 54% less extracorporeal surgery were performed. Collaboration in adults COVID-19 front line care has been 15%, having 7% of our specialists on quarantine. Before operating on any patient, the PCR is asked to rule out SARS-CoV-2 infection and, if positive, we only consider intervention in urgent / emergency cases. CONCLUSIONS: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forced all the congenital heart disease services nationwide to restructure, aiming to support colleagues with direct treatment of COVID-19, without sacrificing the healthcare of our own patients whose surgery could not be delayed.