During laparoscopic operations in urology, there is a potential danger of transmitting the virus to personnel. The European Association of Urology recommends precautions for such surgery (EAU website). Is it advisable to use open surgery in such patients and in what cases?
One study found that after using electrical or ultrasonic equipment for 10 min, the particle concentration of the smoke in laparoscopic surgery was significantly higher than that in traditional open surgery
Based on the high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in stools, some reports on the presence of other viruses in surgical smoke, some cases of infections in doctors suspected to be related to surgical smoke exposure, and higher concentration of surgical smoke particles in laparoscopic compared to open surgery, some postulated a potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 diffusion during all minimally invasive procedures with possible subsequent infection of medical personnel working in operating rooms.
This is good point for discussion and I think more papers are needed to cover this issue in the cvid19 era
Although the concern for safety is genuine, practice of minimal access surgery can be done carefully with appropriate testing, smoke evacuation and other standard precautions in place.
" anticipated concerns from laparoscopy and robotic surgery in the COVID‐19 pandemic are overestimated. laparoscopy can still be performed in a safe manner. " Br J Surg. 2020 Jul; 107(8): e268.
Somashekhar S, Acharya R, Manjiri S, Talwar S, Ashwin K, Rohit Kumar C. Adaptations and Safety Modifications to Perform Safe Minimal Access Surgery (Minimally Invasive Surgery: Laparoscopy and Robotic) during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Surgical Innovation. October 2020. doi:10.1177/1553350620964323
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