Anesthesia for Cardiac Surgery during COVID-19 Pandemic

The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Patients with COVID-19 can progress from asymptomatic or mild illness to hypoxemic respiratory failure to multisystem organ dysfunction and death. Healthcare workers, particularly anesthesiologists, are at increased risk since their airway management expertise is required in situations where suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 require surgical procedures and in critical care settings. Such patients undergoing surgery have a higher perioperative morbidity and mortality. Additionally, aerosol-generating procedures place the operating room staff at high risk of contracting the COVID-19 infection. Here, we present a review of COVID-19 management, particularly in the perioperative setting. In addition, this article highlights specific concerns with the use of transesophageal echocardiography and the precautions to be taken during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This review article is based on this institutional protocol supported by literature from recent publications and guidelines from major health organizations on COVID-19.