Robot Assisted Percutaneous Cardiovascular Intervention as a Strategy to Reduce or Risk of Intra-Procedure Contamination by COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Viruses

In the researchers' words

Percutaneous cardiovascular intervention procedures (e.g. coronary angioplasty, peripheral artery angioplasty) must be performed in person, requiring the physical presence of one or more medical, nursing and technical professionals. The control of catheters and interventional materials is performed manually, with the operator positioned next to the patient. This context results in potential for reciprocal exposure to exhaled air, both for the professionals involved and for the patient, with an inherent risk of aerial contamination. It is important to note that interventional procedures are often performed on an urgent or emergency basis (e.g. myocardial infarction), without the possibility of postponement or postponement. The recent robot-assisted cardiovascular intervention makes it possible to modify this scenario by allowing the procedure to be performed effectively and safely in a position far from the patient. In an environment with high potential for contamination, mainly related to the current pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, may prove to be a tactic to expand hospital security. It is in this sense that the present pilot proposal is inserted, which, ultimately, aims to evaluate the potential of robotic intervention as a strategy to reduce exposure to exhaled air of patients and professionals during the intervention procedure.