Anaesthetic implications during the COVID-19 pandemic: an appraisal of the literature

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised many concerns regarding the safety of patients and healthcare workers. Anaesthetic implications and the impact of this pandemic on anaesthesiologists have been discussed widely in the recent past. Operating theatres are high-risk areas where anaesthesiologists perform various aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs).

Prolong patient contact predisposes them to the risk of exposure. Scarcity of resources and limitations in testing pose an additional risk to the anesthesiologist. Although guidance from various professional bodies is in abundance, there is a general lack of consensus. This review summarises current evidence and guidelines related to anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring the provision of unhindered care, ensuring patient safety and protecting oneself with optimum utilization of available resources remain a challenge to the anesthesiologist.