Working in the cathlab during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The review reflects attitude of the Czech Interventional Cardiology Association to the invasive treatment of heart diseases during COVID-19 pandemic. Primary angioplasty is preferred for the treatment of STEMI and NSTEMI with ongoing ischemia without considering patient’s COVID status. All other patients are tested for COVID minimally 48 hours before hospital or outpatient department admission. In view of the fact that pandemic development in the Czech Republic seems to be favorable, most of the cathlabs are progressively returning to standard care to shorten the period of badly accessible invasive procedures.