key: cord-0803008-knfhcxj5
authors: Carvalho, Sofia Almeida; Ferraz, Inês Fernandes; Duarte, Filipa Pires; Ghira, Miguel
title: GAWA during COVID-19 pandemic: a setback?
date: 2021-02-19
journal: Braz J Anesthesiol
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjane.2020.12.021
sha: 594b90873e46c948a88f560509ba911ae12af144
doc_id: 803008
cord_uid: knfhcxj5

nan

The present year will undoubtedly be marked by the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic which, by the risk of transmission via aerosols and droplets, demanded adjustments by all medical and surgical specialties, particularly Anesthesiology, by its presence in the so-called frontline.

In Portugal, the majority of patients are tested for SARS-CoV-2 (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction SARS-CoV-2). However, since the test is not preceded by isolation, and given its low sensitivity (around 70%), precautions to minimize exposure are maintained despite a negative test result.

Thus, given the presented information, Regional Anesthesia is currently given With the return to elective surgery in times of pandemic, considering inadequacy of regional anesthesia techniques or their failure, GAWA certainly presents advantages, particularly in short duration surgeries in which neuromuscular blockade is considered unnecessary. Simultaneously, considering the specifics of each case, this modality might both be used as a primary strategy as well as a rescue when regional anesthesia fails.

Continuum of depth of sedation: definition of general anesthesia and levels of sedation/analgesia

General anesthesia with spontaneous ventilation without intubation for short-stay operations

The upper airway during anaesthesia

Safety in Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA)

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f