Table 2.

Prioritization of Neurosurgical Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic[5]

Priority Level	Description	Examples (not all inclusive)	Action
Emergency Neurosurgery	Immediate neurosurgery within 24 h	Neurotrauma, intracranial tumors with feature of decompensation or intratumoral bleed, intracranial hemorrhage, ruptured intracranial aneurysm, ruptured myelomeningocele, pituitary apoplexy with acute loss of vision, cauda equina syndrome	Immediate neurosurgery
Semiemergency/Urgent Neurosurgery	Requires treatment within 1 week	Large tumors, e.g., Meningiomas and gliomas, unruptured aneurysm, arteriovenous malformations, spinal tumors with progressing deficits	Prioritize the case; decide on case-to-case basis
Elective Neurosurgery	Neurosurgery within 1 month	Pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, degenerative spinal pathology (lumbar stenosis), schwannoma	Postpone neurosurgery and reschedule based on appropriate time