Pneumoperitoneum

Intensive care medicine

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

Health care

Insufflation

Betacoronavirus

Surgery

Virology

Exsufflation

Personal protective equipment

Economics

Medical emergency

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Outbreak

Laparoscopy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Political science

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

MEDLINE

Health professionals

Medicine

Economic growth

Pandemic

Disease

Pathology

Journal of Visceral Surgery

The Covid-19 pandemic has markedly changed our practices. This article analyses the risks of contamination among healthcare professionals (HCPs) during laparoscopic surgery on patients with Covid-19. Harmful effects of aerosols from a pneumoperitoneum, with the virus present, have not yet been quantified. Measures for the protection of HCPs are an extrapolation of those taken during other epidemics. They must still be mandatory to minimise the risk of viral contamination. Protection measures include personal protection equipment for HCPs, adaptation of surgical technique (method for obtaining pneumoperitoneum, filters, preferred intracorporeal anastomosis, precautions during the exsufflation of the pneumoperitoneum), and organisation of the operating room.

Risks of viral contamination in healthcare professionals during laparoscopy in the Covid-19 pandemic