SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

SAGES COVID-19 / Coronavirus Announcement Archives

SAGES will compile all of its announcements and recommendations regarding Covid-19/Coronavirus at this location.  Please bookmark it for your convenience.

General Disclaimer:

The following is intended to provide our members with additional information to help manage surgical patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are not formal guidelines and due to time constraints, SAGES has not reviewed or authenticated them by utilizing its standard rigorous guidelines process. Statements and information are updated regularly and subject to change as more data becomes available.

Did you find this information helpful?

Please consider joining SAGES or making a donation to the SAGES Education and Research Foundation so we can continue to bring content like this to the surgical community for free.

 

Addressing Religious Concerns About COVID-19 Vaccine

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This may be a difficult subject matter for you and your patient to talk about.  Be assured, all major organized religious groups encourage and recommend the COVID-19 vaccine. Listed below are references and websites you can direct your patient towards to help them make an informed decision with regards to their religious concerns against the COVID-19 vaccine.

Pope Francis video message approving the COVID-19 Vaccine
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248714/pope-francis-ad-council-collaborate-to-promote-covid-19-vaccines-in-the-americas

Statement from the Vatican approving the COVID-19 Vaccine
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/12/21/201221c.ht

Catholic US Bishops approve the use of the COVID 19 Vaccine
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/46899/catholic-us-bishops-approve-use-of-covid-19-vaccines-with-remote-connection-to-abortion

Christian Connection for International Health Vaccine Campaign
https://www.ccih.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Faith-Leaders-COVID-Vaccine-Factsheet.pdf

Central Conference of American Rabbis Support COVID-19 Vaccinations
https://www.ccarnet.org/ccar-responsa/nyp-no-5759-10/

Orthodox Union COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance
https://rabbis.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Guidance-re-Vaccines.pdf

Dalai Lama Urges other to get vaccinated
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56310274

National Muslim Task Force and the National Black Muslim COVID Coalition (NBMCC) on Ramadan 2021 and COVID-19 Vaccines
https://isna.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Press-Release-NMTF-Ramadan-Statement-4.6.2021.pdf

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint approve vaccination
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/church-makes-immunizations-an-official-initiative-provides-social-mobilization?lang=eng&query=vaccination

Jehovah’s Witness “Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Opposed to Vaccination?  NO”
https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/jw-vaccines-immunization/

List compiled 9-30-2021

Free SAGES Webinar: Lessons from COVID on Living and Thriving as Surgeons

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SAGES recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on surgical practice and in surgeon wellness. SAGES’ Reimagining the Practice of Surgery Taskforce will present “Finding the Opportunities: Lessons from COVID and How We Live and Thrive as Surgeons”  to look at ways in which innovative leadership at various levels may help transform the practice of surgery to promote healthier approaches to life and work. CME credit will be provided to participants. The program outline includes:

  • Welcome and Introduction: Horacio Asbun, MD
  • Lessons About Surgical Practice from COVID: John Romanelli, MD
  • Challenges and Opportunities of Telehealth: Denise Gee, MD
  • What Motivates How We Work, Teach and Learn: John Mellinger, MD
  • Innovative Leadership to Support a Paradigm Shift: Adnan Alseidi, MD
  • Q&A Discussion Moderated by Liane Feldman. MD

To register, please go to:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/9115899271563/WN_6DvvFtWWSQmzex4NzTGLqg

Notes from the Battlefield – May 14, 2020

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Coronavirus Global Surgical Collaborative (CVGSC)*
An initiative sponsored by SAGES in collaboration with EAES, AEC, KSELS, and ELSA

A group of surgical leaders from affected countries have joined to discuss what they are learning during this Covid-19 Global crisis. The following is a brief summary of what they feel may be useful information to disseminate to the surgical community:

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Conduct of Surgical Research

The COVID impact on basic research has been extensive in certain areas of the world. Research labs have been affected and many times closed, except for those focused on COVID-19.  Clinical trials at institutions have been severely impacted and largely stopped.  Large streams of funding have been diverted away from non-COVID related research.  Adapting clinical research to the COVID-19 era is important and can be done incorporating COVID-19 testing and study protocol and using telehealth platforms.  For a useful guide on how to adapt research and clinical trials during this period, refer to the document prepared by the CVGSC

“Closing the Back Door” Protocol Helpful

Confidential reports from Italy and Spain confirm the efficacy of the “closing the back door protocol” in allowing an early detection of infected hospitalized surgical patients. Checking in house surgical patients twice a day – short interviews, temperature, and O2 saturation – led to several “suspected” infections. Standard operating protocol has been proven successful in identifying a few patients who later tested positive and were promptly isolated and managed accordingly. Although the early warning system increased the workload in the surgical wards, it definitely proved useful to limit in-hospital micro-outbreaks that potentially can affect other patients and staff health.

Preoperative Testing and Screening for Elective Surgery During the Pandemic to Restart Surgery

To minimize the spread and to plan appropriate protective measures for patients and OR staff, all patients should be tested prior to surgery.  The type and timing of testing remains controversial, however, and is highly dependent on local resources. Please see attached statement for further suggestions.

Participants:

Drs.  Horacio Asbun (Lead), Mohammed Abu Hilal, Jaap Bonjer, Nicolas Demartines, Nader Francis, Ho-Seong Han, Davide Lomanto, Salvador Morales, Andrea Pietrabissa, Aurora Pryor, Christopher Schlachta, Patricia Sylla, Eduardo Targarona, Suthep Udomsawaengsup

Other Surgical Societies/leaders are welcome to participate in future discussions. Please contact SAGES Executive Director, Sallie Matthews at [email protected] if interested in being considered for participation.

General Disclaimer:

The following is intended to provide our members with information arising from the experience of our colleagues from Europe and Asia who experienced the pandemic first.  While the information provided is from very reliable sources, it is NOT evidence based data, since there was no time to test its validity on scientific grounds. It is merely an attempt to share practical advice based upon prior experience and current knowledge.

Did you find this information helpful?
Please consider joining SAGES or making a donation to the SAGES Education and Research Foundation so we can continue to bring content like this to the surgical community for free.

COVID-19 Medical Device Repository

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If you have a product you believe should appear on this list, please submit your request here:

https://www.sages.org/industry-repository-document-request/

Disclaimer:

This list should not be considered an endorsement of any product by SAGES, or as a SAGES recommendation. For user instructions, visit the company website, or the linked document in the table.

Disclaimer of Liability:

The information herein is offered only as a resource. It has been provided by the companies, and the accuracy of the information is solely the responsibility of the company. The products have not been researched or tested by SAGES, nor has the products’ accuracy been confirmed by SAGES.

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Commercially Available Smoke and Gas Evacuation Systems

 

 

Company Product Open Laparoscopic ULPA Passive or Active Links
Alessi Surgical
  • Ultravision
 No Yes Yes Active
Bowa
  • She Sha Smoke Evacuation System
 Yes Yes Yes Active
Braun Aesculap No Yes Yes Active
Conmed Yes Yes Yes Active
CooperSurgical No Yes Yes Passive
Ethicon Yes Yes (Mega Vac Plus Only) Yes Active
IC Medical Yes Yes (Model 450-D) Yes Active
Lexion Medical
  • PneuView XE
  • AP50/30
 No Yes Yes Active
Medtronic Yes Yes Yes Active
Olympus Yes Yes No Active
Stryker Yes Yes Yes Active
Northgate Technologies No Yes Yes Active
Karl Storz No Yes No Active (S-Pilot)
Symmetry Surgical Yes Yes Yes Active
Palliare Ltd No Yes Yes Active
Boehringer Laboratories LLC No Yes No Active

 

N95 Facepiece Respirator Decontamination Systems

Company Method of Decontamination Max number of respirators Decontamination Cycles Links
Battelle CCDS Vapor Phase Hydrogen Peroxide 80,000/per machine/day 20 FDA EUA

IFU
Steris V-Pro Vapor Phase Hydrogen Peroxide 10/machine/10 min 10 FDA EUA

IFU

 

COVID-19 Testing

Company Product Literature
Abbott Abbott Now Rapid SARS-Cov-2 Test Abbot Real Time Assay Fact Sheet
Cellex, Inc. qSARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM Rapid Test qSARS-Cov-2 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Instructional Video
 
 

COVID-19 Update For FLS, FES, and FUSE Test Takers – Updated April 28

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SAGES has made the decision to extend FLS, FES, and FUSE Test Center closures through May 31st, 2020.

All exams scheduled during this time have been cancelled. Some test centers have already chosen to remain closed beyond May 31st. A list of those centers can be found at FLS/FES/FUSE Test Center Closings

Rescheduling

Test takers are able to log in to their test taker account at any time to reschedule their exam appointment. Many test centers will have availability starting June 1st depending on local guidelines.

Additional Testing Opportunities

We understand that once restrictions lift, demand for test appointments will be high. We are committed to providing access to the Fundamentals Exams to all prospective test takers and will be working with our test centers to increase their availability as well as scheduling several Special Onsite Testing Events (FLS) in areas where availability may be limited. Announcements regarding these events will be posted to the FLS website as they are scheduled. www.flsprogram.org

2020 ABS Applicants (FLS, FES)

For those test takers who still need FLS and/or FES certification for their American Board of Surgery (ABS) QE application, ABS will permit those affected by the cancellation of FLS and FES exams to apply for and take the QE without these certifications by the posted deadlines. For more information, please visit http://archive.mailengine1.com/csb/Public/show/fav9-1u74dh–p2vei-98bijss3  or email [email protected].

2021 ABOG Applicants (FLS)

The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) candidates have until mid-December 2020 to complete FLS certification if they are completing their residency in the 2020-21 academic year and plan to begin the certification process and apply for the 2021 ABOG Specialty Qualifying Examination (QE). Application for certification for the Specialty QE is not tied to FLS status. Candidates can complete the application for the 2021 QE prior to completion of FLS certification.  The 2021 QE application should be available in September 2020. Residents are encouraged to apply as soon as the QE application becomes available. Residents should contact ABOG Exams at [email protected] with concerns about completing the FLS program by December 2020.

Voucher Expiration Dates

Test takers in possession of vouchers that are set to expire over the next several months can fill out the form(s) below to request a voucher extension allowing for the voucher to be used through December 31, 2020. All voucher extension requests submitted during this time will be granted.

FLS Voucher Extension Request Form

FES Voucher Extension Request Form

FUSE Voucher Extension Request Form

Fundamentals Division
FLS, FES, and FUSE Programs
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

Phone: (310) 437-0544
Fax: (310) 424-3398
11300 W Olympic Blvd, Ste 600
Los Angeles, CA  90064

SAGES is committed to the protection and care of patients, their surgeons and staff, and all who are served by the medical community at large. For more information on the COVID-19 pandemic from the SAGES organization, please visit: https://www.sages.org/category/covid-19/