COVID-19: Key Concepts for the Surgeon

Abstract

In view of the current pandemic by SARS-CoV-2 it deems essential to understand the key concepts about the infection: its epidemiological origin, presentation, clinical course, diagnosis and treatment (still experimental in many cases). The knowledge about the virus is still limited, but as the pandemic progresses and the physiopathology of the disease is understood, new evidence is being massively published. Surgical specialists are facing an unprecedented situation: they must collaborate in the ER or medical wards attending these patients, while still needing to make decisions about surgical patients with probable COVID-19. The present narrative review aims to summarize the most relevant aspects and synthetize concepts on COVID-19 for surgeons.

Keywords: Cirugía; Coronavirus 2; Coronavirus disease 19; Enfermedad por coronavirus 19; Infección quirúrgica; Medidas preventivas; Preventative measures; Surgery; Surgical infection.