Critical adjustments and trauma surgery trends in adaptation to COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.
10.1016/j.cjtee.2020.05.007
- VernacularTitle:Critical adjustments and trauma surgery trends in adaptation to COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
- Author:
Henry TAN CHOR LIP
1
,
2
,
3
;
Tan Jih HUEI
1
,
2
,
4
;
Yuzaidi MOHAMAD
1
,
5
;
Rizal Imran ALWI
1
,
5
;
Tuan Nur' Azmah TUAN MAT
6
Author Information
1. Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Malaysia Ministry of Health, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
2. Trauma Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Malaysia Ministry of Health, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
3. Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: relos1402@gmail.com.
4. Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
5. Trauma Surgery Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Malaysia Ministry of Health, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
6. Department of General Surgery, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Malaysia Ministry of Health, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
COVID-19;
General surgery;
Malaysia;
Pandemics
- MeSH:
Betacoronavirus;
Coronavirus Infections;
epidemiology;
prevention & control;
Elective Surgical Procedures;
Emergency Treatment;
Humans;
Malaysia;
epidemiology;
Pandemics;
prevention & control;
Pneumonia, Viral;
epidemiology;
prevention & control;
Wounds and Injuries;
surgery
- From:
Chinese Journal of Traumatology
2020;23(4):207-210
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Malaysia has one of the highest total numbers of COVID-19 infections amongst the Southeast Asian nations, which led to the enforcements of the Malaysian "Movement Control Order" to prohibit disease transmission. The overwhelming increasing amount of infections has led to a major strain on major healthcare services. This leads to shortages in hospital beds, ventilators and critical personnel protective equipment. This article focuses on the critical adaptations from a general surgery department in Malaysia which is part of a Malaysian tertiary hospital that treats COVID-19 cases. The core highlights of these strategies enforced during this pandemic are: (1) surgery ward and clinic decongestions; (2) deferment of elective surgeries; (3) restructuring of medical personnel work force; (4) utilization of online applications for tele-communication; (5) operating room (OR) adjustments and patient screening; and (6) continuing medical education and updating practices in context to COVID-19. These adaptations were important for the continuation of emergency surgery services, preventing transmission of COVID-19 amongst healthcare workers and optimization of medical personnel work force in times of a global pandemic. In addition, an early analysis on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures in Malaysia towards the reduction in total number of elective/emergent/trauma surgeries performed is described in this article.
