James A. Van Rhee, MS, PA-C, Consulting Editor
By the time this issue is published, I hope we are deep into the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. These have been trying times: separated from family and friends, loss of loved ones, and the daily feeling of unease during the pandemic. But it is hoped these new vaccines will change the effect this virus has on our lives. I hope we will feel normal again with the vaccine. In the future, when someone coughs or sneezes, I hope the first thing we think about is not COVID. In the future, when we see someone wearing a surgical mask on the street, I hope our thoughts do not go immediately to COVID. In the future, when we are in a crowded room or at a sporting event, I hope we will stop wondering if someone near me has COVID. Let us hope we can soon get back to the days of enjoying cultural and sporting events, dining out with friends, and spending time with patients without personal protective equipment. Thank you to all the health care providers, who have sacrificed so much to care for all patients, both with and without COVID. I hope, when things get back to some sense of normalcy, we can honor all the providers the way they deserve to be honored.
This issue of Physician Assistant Clinics, with guest editor, Courtney Fankhanel, provides an excellent review of several topics in surgery. These will benefit the surgical and nonsurgical physician assistant (PA). For the surgical PA, Zurich and Preda provide a comprehensive review of chest tubes, and with the assistance of Dhanasopan, Zurich and Preda also review chest tube drainage in the age of COVID-19. Sherer provides a discussion of enhanced recovery after surgery, and Showstark reviews disaster surgery. Bodner reviews perioperative respiratory concerns, and McLaughlin, Poh, Chi, Reyblat, and Kim discuss gender-affirming genitourinary surgery.
For the surgical and nonsurgical PA, Rienzo and Roessler discuss preoperative evaluation for noncardiac surgery; Bowker, Orsulak, and Barber review postoperative ileus, and Collins describes periprosthetic joint infections. Barry describes surgical wound infections; Fankhanel discusses aortic stenosis, and Kestler reviews chronic venous insufficiency.
I hope you enjoy this issue. Our next issue will cover topics in behavioral health.