The practice and science adapt to the pandemic
A prática e a ciência se adaptam à pandemia

We are already in the 2^nd issue of 2021 and still under a very difficult moment in our lives, with no secure prospects for its end.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused numerous changes in our routine, including the need to deepen our knowledge of this new disease. It has become fundamental for a safe practice the understanding of basic characteristics of the disease and repercussions on different organs and systems and the specific complications of interest to our specialty.

The indication of elective procedures, based on preoperative testing, was essential to ensure the performance of safe procedures without the risk of complications from the disease, which has proven to be associated with anesthetic and surgical procedures^1-3. The variations in the number of infected people caused intermittence in procedures, with regional and temporal variations. This instability over procedures directly impacted the financial and economic aspects of surgeons and teaching and learning of medical residents^4-7.

Some situations specifically related to plastic surgery changed the treatment profile. Motivated by restrictions and recommendations for not performing procedures in the most intense phases of the pandemic, the increase in reconstructive procedures for complex wounds and after cancer resection was due to the long delay in searching for definitive surgical treatment. Additionally, an increase in the incidence of cases of pressure ulcers in atypical locations due to the need for patient pronation under sedation and mechanical ventilation was observed, motivating the institution of specific prevention protocols^8-16.

It was up to the Brazilian Journal of Plastic Surgery (SBCP) to encourage and receive numerous articles related to COVID-19 treatment. In addition to demonstrating the interest of Brazilian plastic surgeons in disseminating their experiences, our Journal is on par with several scientific journals creating a rapid flow for the dissemination of these studies through the specific sector “ahead of print” for articles related to COVID-19^{1,3,9,10-13,16}.

REFERENCES

1. Gonçalves TS, Chaves BI, Bannet LP, Carreirão S, Hakme F. COVID-19: análise dos riscos de operar durante a pandemia. Quais as reais complicações perioperatórias em pacientes assintomáticos e como otimizar o diagnóstico precoce?. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2020 Jul;35(4):472-8.

2. Aminian A, Safari S, Razeghian-Jahromi A, Ghorbani M, Delaney CP. COVID-19 outbreak and surgical practice: unexpected fatality in perioperative period. Ann Surg 2020 Jul;272(1):e27-e9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000003925

3. Zanella RK, Valente SS, Valente DS. Qual é o papel dos testes rápidos de diagnóstico de COVID-19 IgM/IgG no pré-operatório de cirurgia plástica estética?. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2021;36(1):63-8.

4. Diaz A, Sarac BA, Schoenbrunner AR, Janis JE, Pawlik TM. Elective surgery in the time of COVID-19. Am J Surg. 2020 Jun;219(6):900-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.04.014

5. Pagotto VP, Abbas L, Goldenberg DC, Lobato RC, Nascimento BB, Monteiro GG, et al. The impact of COVID-19 on the plastic surgery activity in a high-complexity university hospital in Brazil: the importance of reconstructive plastic surgery during the pandemic. Eur J Plast Surg. 2020 Ago;43:819-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-020-01729-6

6. Al-Jabir A, Kerwan A, Nicola M, Alsafi Z, Khan M, Sohrabi C, et al. Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on surgical practice - Part 1. Int J Surg. 2020;79:168-79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.05.022

7. Zingaretti N, Negrini FC, Tel A, Tresoldi MM, Bresadola V, Parodi PC. The impact of COVID-19 on plastic surgery residency training. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2020 Mai;44(4):1381-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01789-w

8. Ozturk CN, Kuruoglu D, Ozturk C, Rampazzo A, Gurunluoglu RG. Plastic surgery and the COVID-19 pandemic: a review of clinical guidelines. Ann Plast Surg. 2020 Ago;85(2S Suppl 2):S155-S60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000002443

9. Macedo JLS, Rosa SC, Rezende Filho AV. A importância do consentimento informado no retorno das cirurgias eletivas durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2020;35(4):516-7.

10. Vilela LF, Carvalho TRW, Silva LR, Teófilo LA, Martuscelli OJD, Silva DF, et al. Impacto da pandemia do vírus COVID-19 nas internações para tratamento de câncer de pele no Brasil. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2021;36(1):1-6.

11. Brito BL, Isaac C, Neves DP, Giavina-Bianchi P. COVID-19: como proceder na prática da cirurgia plástica no Brasil. O que sabemos até agora?. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2020;35(4):449-65.

12. Gonçalves HOC, Coltro PS, Silveira VG, Hohl DH, Silva GMA, Farina-Junior JA. Covid-19 e cirurgia plástica: relato de caso de tratamento de ferida complexa. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2020;35(4):483-6.

13. Silveira VG, Coltro PS, Gonçalves HOC, Hohl DH, Silva GMA, Farina-Junior JA. Cirurgia reparadora no contexto da Covid-19: complicações evolutivas no tratamento de ferida complexa inguinal. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2020;35(3):353-7.

14. Ibarra G, Rivera A, Fernandez-Ibarburu B, Lorca-García C, Garcia-Ruanoa A. Prone position pressure sores in the COVID-19 pandemic: the Madrid experience. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2020 Dez 26; [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2020.12.057

15. Nani FS, Stéfani KC, Busnardo FF, Monteiro GGR, Santos MGGRD, John VM, et al. Ulcer pressure prevention and opportunity for innovation during the COVID-19 crisis. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2020;75:e2292. DOI: https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2020/e2292

16. Takemura RE, Nicolas G, Wada A, Gomez DS, Gemperli R. Os desafios no tratamento de paciente grande queimado e politraumatizado com trombose arterial em membro inferior durante a pandemia de COVID-19: relato de caso. Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2021;36(1):1-6.

Editor-in-chief.