ASA, APSF issue guidance on surgery, anesthesia for COVID-19 patients who have recovered

Editor's Note

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) issued a joint statement December 8 on performing elective surgery and anesthesia on COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the virus.

The statement notes that:

• In general, all non-urgent procedures should be delayed until the patient is no longer in isolation and has entered the recovery phase.
• Elective surgeries should be performed on patients who have recovered from COVID-19 only when the anesthesiologist and surgeon or proceduralist agree to proceed.

The statement also offers guidance on determining when post-COVID-19 patients are no longer infectious and the appropriate length of  time to wait between recovery from COVID-19 and surgery with respect to minimizing postoperative complications.