Dear BGES member

My fellow friends
THE BELGIAN GROUP
FOR ENDOSCOPIC
SURGERY In these roaring times of unprecedented change, we would like to contact you to let you know that the
heart of BGES goes out to its members, their families and above all our patients.
Lostraat, 67 We, as surgeons, will be called on to be leaders during this difficult time, and this should be a natural
1703 Schepdaal function that surgeons do with ease.
Fax +3223312948
COVID-19 has changed our world as we knew it and might change our life for good. We are being asked
BE0446.038.464 to cancel elective cases and communicate with our patients by phone during so-called tele-consultation.
In many hospitals only urgent and some oncological cases will still be done, but this could lead to
insecurity, stress, and sometimes fear amongst health care professionals and patients.
secretary :
Arlette Siebertz I write this letter to you to make you aware of the existing evidence and guidelines regarding minimally
asiebertz@skynet.be invasive surgery in this ‘Covid 19-period’. Some conflicting data exist regarding use of laparoscopy and
www.bges.net selection of cases. As such, Corona-virus might be detected in the aerosol of the pneumoperitoneum
and could therefore be dangerous.

Please have a look at the following information:

BGES BOARD
https://www.acpgbi.org.uk/news/urgent-intercollegiate-general-surgery-guidance-on-covid-
Albert Wolthuis
19/?mc_cid=5b70cc5fb5&mc_eid=bac08b71e8
secretary general

Gabriele Liberale https://www.sages.org/category/covid-19/

treasurer
https://www.facs.org/covid-19/clinical-guidance/elective-case/emergency-surgery
Alexis Buggenhout
executive officer
Some other fruit for thought:
Jean-Philippe Magema
webmaster 1. Screening of all urgent and elective cases by swab or low-dose chest CT.
2. Use of airseal insufflator.
Elke Van Daele 3. Careful desufflation before utility incision or end of procedure.
4. Use of virus-blocking filters, such as LaparoShield plus (surgical gas and smoke filtration
Damien Dresse system), amongst others.
Stijn Heyman 5. Dedicated theatre with special protection (FFP2 masks, clothing, helmet).
Nicolas Meurisse
Martijn Schoneveld The coming time might become extremely difficult for all of us. Some of us will have contracted or will
contract Covid 19 as a reality. I would like to stress the points of hygiene and precautions already being
Bart Smet
made by our government, our local hospitals and health care workers.

Please let us know what we can do to help you. For now, thank you for all you are doing for your
patients, hospitals, staff and your family.

Please stay safe.

Sincerely,

Albert Wolthuis
Secretary General BGES