Published online Jun 27, 2020. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v12.i6.259
Peer-review started: April 23, 2020
First decision: April 29, 2020
Revised: May 1, 2020
Accepted: May 19, 2020
Article in press: May 19, 2020
Published online: June 27, 2020
Core tip: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus has become a critical challenge to global health with immense economic and social disruption. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a “stress test” to evaluate the capacity and resilience of our surgical community in dealing with the challenges imposed to our health system and society. Some aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak are relevant to surgical practice and modifying practice can reduce risk to patients and staff alike. We discuss considerations during the pre-operative and post-operative periods as well as the utility and limitations of COVID-19 testing. Computed tomography scan is currently the most sensitive modality for COVID-19, and while reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction is highly specific, sensitivity is considerably viable based on multiple factors.