Perioperative nursing care in time of a pandemic caused by the coronavirus: an integrative review

Abstract

The aim was to identify, from the scientific publications of nursing in health, the adaptations and changes in the nursing care provided to the patient in the anesthetic recovery during the immediate postoperative period in the pandemic caused by the coronavirus. As a study methodology, an integrative literature review was used, following the steps proposed by Mendes. As inclusion criteria, scientific productions published in Portuguese, English and Spanish, from the years 2019 and 2020, were established. Based on the findings, three categories emerged: “Reorganization of the service during the care of surgical patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19” , “Personal protective equipment during the care provided to the surgical patient” and “Immediate postoperative care in the case of suspicion or confirmation of COVID-19”, which demonstrate the need to reorganize the entire workflow in the operating room, ensuring safety of professionals and patients. In the care of the patient in the immediate postoperative period, we highlight the anesthetic recovery of the patient in the operating room until the patient's complete recovery, in the need to use supplementary oxygen during recovery or transport, the oxygen catheter must be placed under the surgical mask and the patient must be transported to the sector of origin wearing a mask.