COVID-19 testing of all children before having anesthesia saves personal protective equipment

CHICAGO – Universal COVID-19 testing of children who are having procedures requiring anesthesia promotes efficient use of personal protective equipment (PPE), according to research being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2020 annual meeting.

Testing can rule out children who would otherwise be suspected of having COVID-19 based on symptoms or possible exposure to the virus. Ruling out COVID-19 prevents unnecessary use of the extensive PPE recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC-recommended PPE for treating COVID-19 positive patients includes a respirator mask, such as an N95 or PAPR, and a gown, in addition to the standard PPE of surgical mask, eye protection and gloves, which are always worn by health care workers during procedures requiring anesthesia. 

Although early in the pandemic it appeared that children were rarely affected, their numbers have been growing and today children comprise more than 10% of COVID-19 cases. 

“This study links the importance of universal testing for COVID-19, increased safety of staff and efficient use of PPE, especially items such as N95 face masks, which are in low supply,” said Lenard Babus, M.D., lead author of the study and attending pediatric anesthesiologist, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “If universal testing were used outside the hospital, outpatient facilities and other treatment centers could experience similar PPE and safety benefits.” 

Hospitals frequently verbally screen patients for COVID-19 using three criteria: travel history, close contact or exposure to the disease, and symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath. However, a positive screen doesn’t guarantee the presence of COVID-19. Conversely, a patient may have no symptoms of the virus or apparent risk for COVID-19, but may still have the virus. 

For the study, researchers analyzed results of COVID-19 testing in anesthesia procedures performed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia between March 26 and May 11, 2020. Patients required anesthesia for a wide range of procedures, from MRI testing to cancer surgery and appendix removal. All children were tested for COVID-19 using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test prior to receiving anesthesia. They then compared the test results to those who were suspected of being infected, based on the verbal screening method.

Overall, 1,033 children were included in the study and 146 children verbally screened positive for at least one of the three criteria. Without COVID-19 PCR testing, health care providers treating all 146 children would have been required to wear expanded PPE, including an N95 mask or respirator. However, because their COVID-19 PCR test was negative, 102 of the 146 patients received care with standard PPE, a reduction of 70%. They also found that 10 children who verbally screened negative for the disease actually tested positive for COVID-19, and may have otherwise been overlooked, increasing health care workers’ risk of exposure. 

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS

Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 54,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology. ASA is committed to ensuring physician anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of patients before, during and after surgery to provide the highest quality and safest care every patient deserves.

For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org. To learn more about the role physician anesthesiologists play in ensuring patient safety, visit asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount. Join the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2020 social conversation today. Like ASA on Facebook, follow ASALifeline on Twitter and use the hashtag #ANES20.

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