J Transcat Intervent.2020;28:eA20200013.
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic in a public hospital in Triângulo Mineiro region
Achilles Gustavo Silva
, Mario León Silva-Vergara
DOI: 10.31160/JOTCI202028A20200013
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), identified in December 2019, in Wuhan, China, is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA genome betacoronavirus that causes pneumonia and severe respiratory failure, which characterize the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). – This disease was considered a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) and, currently, more than 7.5 million people in the world have already been affected. Due to the high transmission rate of the disease, which requires healthcare assistance and hospitalization, with the possibility of overloading the health system, several measures were adopted, such as suspension of classes at schools and universities, closing of stores, banning of events, and within the health system, ward and intensive care units (ICU) beds have been specifically reserved for the treatment of patients with COVID-19.
Cath lab reports in Spain, Italy, Austria and the United States showed a decrease of up to 80% in the number of procedures performed, and up to 40% in the number of infarctions treated. One of the arguments used to explain this phenomenon was the possible fear of seeking care in overburdened hospitals with large numbers of infected patients. –
[…]
315