Resource: Rhinosurgery during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: International Consensus Conference Statement on Preliminary Perioperative Safety Measures
Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Synopsis: This is a level V article (expert opinion) from the Science and Research Committee of the Rhinoplasty Society of Europe. Fourteen very experienced rhinoplastic surgeons had a 3.5 hour Zoom meeting, and tried to come to consensus on common peri-operative issues for functional and aesthetic rhinoplasty.
The results are tabulated at: https://cdn-links.lww.com/permalink/prs/e/prs_147_5_2021_03_08_haug_prs-d-20-02070_sdc1.pdf
Statement with 100% consensus:
- Pre-op assessment should include specific screening questions for COVID-19 exposure.
- RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 should be routinely performed prior to surgery. Most recommended one test, 2 days prior to surgery.
Statements with 90% or greater consensus:
- The informed consent should be adapted for the COVID-19 era.
- Routine surgical face masks are inadequate for aerosol-generating examinations or surgical procedures. FFP2/3/N95 masks plus shield were recommended.
- Intra-nasal/ pharynx disinfection with either Betadine or Octenisept was recommended. Many also recommended pre-surgical nasal packing with Betadine.
Statements with 80%-90% consensus:
- COVID-19 increases complication rates / death after surgery.
While there are more recommendations of interest to surgeons performing rhinoplasty, for the sake of brevity here, we recommend that those surgeons read the article.
Comment: While many of the consensus statements listed here seem fairly routine today, it simply shows just how far our understanding of COVID-19 has come in one year.
