Recommendations for the organization of electrophysiology and cardiac pacing services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Latin American Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS) in collaboration with: Colombian College Of Electrophysiology, Argentinian Society of Cardiac Electrophysiology (SADEC), Brazilian Society Of Cardiac Arrhythmias (SOBRAC), Mexican Society Of Cardiac Electrophysiology (SOMEEC)

• Published in: Journal of interventional cardiac electrophysiology 2020-11, Vol.59 (2), p.307-313
• Main Authors: Saenz, Luis C., Miranda, Antonio, Speranza, Ricardo, Texeira, Ricardo Alkmim, Rojel, Ulises, Enriquez, Andres, Figuereido, Marcio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Argentina; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - diagnosis; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - surgery; Brazil; Cardiac Electrophysiology - organization & administration; Cardiology; Catheter Ablation - standards; Catheter Ablation - statistics & numerical data; Colombia; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; COVID-19; Delivery of Health Care; Elective Surgical Procedures - standards; Elective Surgical Procedures - statistics & numerical data; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac - standards; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Infection Control - organization & administration; Latin America; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mexico; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pandemics - statistics & numerical data; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Safety Management - standards; Societies, Medical
• ISSN: 1383-875X; 1572-8595
• DOI: 10.1007/s10840-020-00747-5

COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving public health emergency that has largely impacted the provision of healthcare services around the world. The challenge for electrophysiology teams is double; on one side preventing disease spread by limiting all nonessential face-to-face interactions, but at the same time ensuring continued care for patients who need it. These guidelines contain recommendations regarding triaging in order to define what procedures, device checks and clinic visits can be postponed during the pandemic. We also discuss best practices to protect patients and healthcare workers and provide guidance for the management of COVID-19 patients with arrhythmic conditions.