The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed surgeons to hazardous working conditions, imposing the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) use during surgery. The use of such equipment may affect their non-technical skills, augment fatigue, and affect performance. This discussion is intended to know how it is affecting it and what measures surgeons are taking to handle the issues related to PPEs.
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At least at the hospitals that I know off in UK, USA, and Saudi Arabia, surgeons are dealing with the COVID-19 by doing only emergency surgery and that also after a SARS-CoV-2 test result is known. Therefore, they don't have to deal with changing PPEs.
We have recently published a paper
Am J Infect Control. 2020 Jul 28
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.07.022 [Epub ahead of print]
PMCID: PMC7386295
PMID: 32735810
A Hybrid Model integrating warm heat and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation might efficiently disinfect respirators and personal protective equipment
As a Surgeon I think I can answer this
Definitely yes. Both physical and psychological.
Physically: Fine surgical movements are hampered , visibility and fogging is a problem, communications during surgery is a problem. Donning and doffing of PPE is also a concern and time consuming.
Psychologically: Fear is there of unknown and getting infection. Mental fatigue is a reality after some time. May be there is a sense of isolation and abandonment.
How we are dealing: Accepting the reality. Doing surgery as a duty and service to human kind. Hoping for the best and praying hard that we do not contract the virus. Staggered duty schedule and duty hours. Supporting one another as buddy system both physically and mentally.
The following article might give a better perspective to your question.
World J Surg. 2020 Jun 20: 1-6
doi:10.1007/s00268-020-05648-2 PMCID: PMC 7305697
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346400067_Impact_of_Personal_Protective_Equipment_on_Surgeon's_Performance_during_COVID-19_Crisis_Qualitative_Exploration_of_Challenges_and_Solutions