Table 1.

Intraoperative Measures, Types of Procedures (Priorities), and COVID-19 Operating Theater Characteristics

COVID-19 operating theater	1)PPE: level 3 surgical gown, coveralls, filtering face piece 3 facial mask, 2 pairs of gloves, surgical hood, protective visors, goggles, waterproof boot and shoe cover 2)Powered air-purifying respirators was used in prolonged or high-risk operations 3)Patients’ transfer from ward or ICU to OR was done by nurses in full PPE 4)OR staff were closely monitored and screened postoperatively 5)As minimum number of staff as possible were present in the OR
Intraoperative measures	1)Disposable airway equipment was used 2)For patients who were preoperatively in the ICU, intubation was performed in the negative pressure ICU before surgery 3)For other patients, intubation/extubation was performed by anesthesiologist and at least 5 minutes before the other members enter the OR 4)Smoke evacuator was used whenever electrocautery was used 5)Any procedure that could possibly result in aerosol generation such as drilling was minimized 6)Endonasal approaches were avoided, patients were symptomatically managed, and surgery was postponed
Emergency (immediately)
Trauma	1)Decompressive craniectomy for acute traumatic brain injury 2)Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (SAH, SDH, and epidural hematoma) 3)Depressed and open skull fractures 4)Acute increase in ICP 5)External ventricular drain placement and ICP monitoring in traumatic patients
Vascular	1)Nontraumatic SAH and intracerebral hemorrhage (ruptured aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation) 2)Acute thrombectomy 3)Decompressive craniectomy for acute ischemic stroke
Oncology	1)Tumors causing acute hydrocephalus and increase in ICP 2)Tumors causing acute visual impairment 3)Impaired level of consciousness caused by tumor 4)Tumors with increased risk of hemorrhage
Spine	1)Spinal cord compression caused by any disease presenting with acute or subacute neurologic deficit
Infection	1)Deep or superficial surgical site infection that needs surgical debridement 2)Intracranial infections that require prompt surgical drainage
Others	1)Acute traumatic peripheral nerve injury 2)Other complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, instrument failure, and shunt malfunction
Semiurgent procedures (within 14 days)
Vascular	1)Unruptured aneurysm 2)Chronic SDH
Oncology	1)Tumors causing acute and subacute neurologic deficits other than those mentioned in the emergency subgroup 2)Biopsy 3)High-grade tumors
Spine	1)Spinal cord compression caused by any disease presenting with subacute neurologic deficit
Elective procedures (>14 days)	1)Any procedure that was not emergency or semiurgent

PPE, personal protective equipment; ICU, intensive care unit; OR, operating room; SAH, subarachnoid hemorrhage; SDH, subdural hematoma; ICP, intracranial pressure.