In Reply: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Global Pandemic: A Neurosurgical Treatment Algorithm

To the Editor:

We would like to thank the authors^1,2 for their commentaries on our article.³ The authors raise several important points regarding neurosurgical care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors have been practicing in one of the hardest hit areas during the pandemic, and we thank them for their steadfast efforts and their thoughtful commentaries on our letter.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of COVID-19 has been the variation of the pandemic's impact across the world, and it is certainly the case that few regions have had a greater burden than Italy, and the authors’ home institution in particular. The points raised offer very practical measures for any neurosurgeon working through this crisis, and we especially appreciate the authors’ comment² that neurosurgeons “usually consider risks and benefits related to the single patient, in these times we should think at a community level.” As we move toward reopening our practices, it is useful to reflect on this advice, and how the pandemic has shifted our thinking about risk to patients and medical providers. On behalf of the entire neurosurgical community, we thank the authors for their response to the pandemic and using our letter as an opportunity to document their efforts.

Disclosures

The authors have no personal, financial, or institutional interest in any of the drugs, materials, or devices described in this article.