COVID-19: GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS (standard guidelines - subject to change)

Since the first cases, recorded in December last year in the fish market in Wuhan, China1, Sars-Cov-2 has infected thousands of people around the world2, and with this, an avalanche of information and emotions has changed the world economy and the routine of many people. [...]of this editorial, those cases in which the patient presents with fever and respiratory symptoms of the common cold, cough, difficulty breathing, and nasal wing beat, among others, and which are associated with a recent history of travel to a region with local transmission, or of close contact with a suspected case, or of contact with a laboratory-confirmed case, in the 14 days prior to the appearance of signs or symptoms, are considered suspect cases. The ECMO group at the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, led by Dr. Maximilian Halbe published its recommendations for indication and contraindication of ECMO in Covid-19 patients. In times of exponential Covid-19 infections and growing demand for health services, the surgeon has an important role in reinforcing the good health practices defined by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to the general population.