• Adult Cardiac Surgery and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Aggressive Infection Mitigation Strategies Are Necessary in the Operating Room and Surgical Recovery

      Engelman, Daniel T.; Lother, Sylvain; George, Isaac; Funk, Duane J.; Ailawadi, Gorav; Atluri, Pavan; Grant, Michael C.; Haft, Jonathan W.; Hassan, Ansar; Legare, Jean-Francois; et al. (2020-04-21)
      The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates aggressive infection mitigation strategies to reduce the risk to patients and healthcare providers. This document is intended to provide a framework for the adult cardiac surgeon to consider in this rapidly changing environment. Pre, intra, and post-operative detailed protective measures are outlined. These are guidance recommendations during a pandemic surge to be utilized for ALL patients while local COVID-19 disease burden remains elevated.
    • Adult cardiac surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Tiered Patient Triage Guidance Statement

      Haft, Jonathan W.; Atluri, Pavan; Alawadi, Gorav; Engelman, Daniel; Grant, Michael C.; Hassan, Ansar; Legare, Jean-Francois; Whitman, Glenn; Arora, Rakesh C. (2020-04-10)
      In the setting of the current novel coronavirus pandemic, this document has been generated to provide guiding statements for the adult cardiac surgeon to consider in a rapidly evolving national landscape. Acknowledging the risk for a potentially prolonged need for cardiac surgery procedure deferral, the authors have created this proposed template for physicians and interdisciplinary teams to consider in protecting their patients, institution and their highly specialized cardiac surgery team. In addition, recommendations on the transition from traditional in-person patient assessments and outpatient follow-up are provided. Lastly, we advocate that the cardiac surgeon must continue to serve as leaders, experts, and relevant members of our medical community, shifting our role as necessary in this time of need.