The guidance states elective surgeries should only be performed after a patient clinically recovers from the infection, and “even then, only when the anesthesiologist, surgeon or proceduralist and patient together agree to proceed,” a June 20 ASA press release said.
The organizations recommend that elective surgeries not occur within two weeks of a COVID-19 infection. Between two and seven weeks after infection, clinicians should conduct a risk assessment of the patient. If the risk is low, the surgery can be scheduled. A delay beyond seven weeks should be considered for patients who continue to have COVID-19 symptoms.
The decision should be based on whether the patient is infectious and clinicians’ opinions on the appropriate time to wait between recovery and surgery based on the patient and surgery-specific risks.
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