key: cord-0252467-w2dlhnjz
authors: De Luca, P
title: Head and Neck Surgery Residency during Covid-19 Pandemic. Lessons from Southern Italy
date: 2020-12-31
journal: Transl Med UniSa
DOI: nan
sha: e77c7c2cbb351f8f600ac0190c09c4c1d0b910fb
doc_id: 252467
cord_uid: w2dlhnjz

nan

consultants during tracheostomy; the procedures were performed by expert surgeons to guarantee fast and effective tracheostomy and to avoid long infection exposure.

In this scenario, we are facing a double challenge: on one hand, we are forging our character and improving our skills during this pandemic. On the other hand, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were limited to emergencies and oncology patients 6 , with a substantial decrease in the residents' involvement in the surgical theater, so we are not able to quantify the short-term and the long-term implications of these changes.

In the absence/reduction of hands-on surgical experience, we should consider newly available options for trainees, also considering the need to respect social distancing.

While we understand the importance of in-person patient experience, we should consider the opportunity of virtual education and telemedicine; due to the impossibility to participate in lectures, we strongly believe that departments should organize online lessons and virtual academic conferences 7 . In this view, a simple idea could be to develop teaching contexts in telemedicine, dealing contracts with companies that provide online courses and distance learning. We also recommend viewing high-quality surgical videos to help make up for the significant loss of time in the operating room.

In addition, to bridge the surgical gap caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to not limit surgical training to oncological patients and trauma emergencies, I suggest a greater involvement of residents in the operating room.

I would also like to emphasize the importance, for a University with surgical residencies, the presence of a permanent anatomical dissection laboratory, which allows residents to improve their surgical skills and to learn new techniques; the dissection time can be also considered as a moment of sharing between residents and tutors6. Although no one can now quantify how much our surgical education will be compromised by the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that this unprecedented circumstance will change the way we will be educated. I am optimistic that future otolaryngology residents will benefit from these changes, and I am sure that those of us training during this pandemic are deeply changed and grow in our role as physicians and future leaders.

Nasal, pharyngeal and laryngeal endoscopy procedures during COVID-19 pandemic: available recommendations from national and international societies

The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-an emerging global health threat

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Otolaryngology Residency: A Real-Life Experience

Potential Implications for SARS-CoV-2 Treatment. A Brief Review of the Literature

Combined throat/nasal swab sampling for SARS-CoV-2 is equivalent to nasopharyngeal sampling

COVID-19 Pandemic and Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program: Proposals for the "Phase 2

To Be a Partner in Life-Resident Training During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The author wants to thank his Chief, Ettore Cassandro (Full Professor of Otorhinolaryngology; Chief of Head and Neck Department, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy) for the opportunity to report his experience and for the efforts to ensure the stability of the residency program during the pandemic.