בשל "הגנת זכויות יוצרים" מובא להלן קישור לתקציר המאמר. לקריאתו בטקסט מלא, אנא פנה/י לספרייה הרפואית הזמינה לך.

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has presented challenges to healthcare systems around the world and will continue to do so for months and perhaps years.

The threats that the disease poses to both patients and healthcare workers have changed medical practice, but these changes can offer opportunity to those with subspecialty interests in areas such as regional anaesthesia.

Indeed, the European and American Societies of Regional Anaesthesia have produced joint COVID-19 recommendations boldly stating that regional anaesthesia should be preferred over general anaesthesia whenever possible, and practice recommendations for regional anaesthesia during the pandemic have subsequently been published.

The Royal College of Anaesthetists and Association of Anaesthetists also advise using local or regional anaesthesia where practicable and safe in order to preserve key drugs required during the critical care of COVID-19 patients.

Other perceived advantages of regional anaesthesia during the COVID-19 pandemic may include: a reduction in aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) and thereby both increased safety and a saving in the time, resource and financial costs of personal protective equipment (PPE), preservation of immune function when compared with general anaesthesia, improved postoperative analgesia minimising direct contact with care givers, and earlier discharge.