Abstract
The aim of this study is to report the reallocation of carotid surgery activity with the support of telemedicine in a COVID-free clinic during COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis or asymptomatic vulnerable plaques were reallocated to a COVID-free private clinic which began to cooperate with the National Health System during the emergency. Quick training of staff nurses was performed. Surgeons moved to the COVID-19 free clinic. Remote cerebral monitoring was performed with the support of telemedicine. Twenty-four patients underwent standard carotid endarterectomy with eversion technique. Five patients (20.8%) had recently symptomatic stenosis, and the remaining 19 patients (79.2%) had a risky asymptomatic carotid stenosis. No technical issue with remote cerebral monitoring was detected. In the early postoperative period, no neurological/systemic complication was observed. Three patients under dual antiplatelet therapy (12.5%) had neck hematoma. All patients were discharged the day after surgery. In our preliminary experience, reallocation in a COVID-free clinic allowed us to maintain a functioning carotid surgery activity during COVID-19 pandemic. A multidisciplinary approach and support of telemedicine were crucial. Training of unskilled nurse staff was necessary.
Keywords: COVID-19; Carotid surgery; Telemedicine.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, telemedicine., Carotid surgery, 【초록키워드】 therapy, COVID-19 pandemic, surgery, Telemedicine, Asymptomatic, symptomatic, Patient, remote, antiplatelet, Emergency, Nurse, hematoma, dual, multidisciplinary approach, Support, training, carotid stenosis, postoperative period, neck hematoma, eversion technique, plaque, plaques, stenosis, System, approach, national health system, was performed, postoperative, maintain, discharged, carotid, 【제목키워드】 activity, clinic,