Dear members and colleagues,
EEEX, under constant updating of data, studies and announcements regarding the progress of the global Covid-19 pandemic, is trying to provide documented and well-founded guidelines to the Hellenic Surgical Community and especially to colleagues who apply the minimally invasive techniques. with the decisions and instructions of EODY.
Based on the above and the continuously acquired experience from the course so far, we announce and suggest the following:

• Gradual planning of all types of regular surgeries, always with priority on emergencies and oncology cases, from Monday, May 4, 2020.
• The number of planned interventions will always be determined according to the capacity of each clinic and hospital, harmonized with the decisions of the ministry and the administration of the Hospital.
• Strict adherence to the SARS-CoV-2 virus detection method, in the preoperative examination of all patients who will be operated on, within a certain period of time before their introduction, except in extremely urgent cases.
• The predominance in the safety of the type of surgery (laparoscopic or open), in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, has not been proven to date in any study, with the result that the choice is determined by the experience and advantages that exist so far.
• Laparoscopic access is NOT contraindicated for both regular and emergency cases, on the contrary it presents advantages that are very important for the safety of patients and staff such as:

1. Less hospitalization time resulting in faster patient treatment, and release of beds, respirators and medications.
2. Less hospitalization in patients with covid-19, resulting in better survival and shorter hospital stay.
3. A very limited surgical field compared to “open surgery”, and therefore a much lower chance of dispersing body fluids and tissues, resulting in a much reduced chance of infecting staff.
4. Ability to manage and avoid diffusion of surgical smoke, as it is confined to the peritoneal cavity and can be removed from the central suction with or without the use of smoke evacuation devices

• The implementation of all measures to protect staff in the interventional phase, continues uninterruptedly as mentioned in previous announcements, and at the same time we suggest:
1. Use of reduced pneumoperitoneal pressure, and remove it at the end of the operation, with a suction device, if possible
2. Minimize the use of energy devices as much as possible, and where necessary avoidance of ultrasonic energy devices
3. Although the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 virus by aerosol is completely theoretical (since the bibliographic documentation is completely missing), the use of smoke evacuation devices and / or ULPA filters is encouraged.

Dear members and colleagues, EEEX is always at the center of developments, aiming at continuous information and information with the constantly updated data during this difficult period of the pandemic.
There will be continuous announcements of the new data with valid bibliographic sources.
We stay safe, we stay informed !!

CHAIRMAN: S. Kapiris

A DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: G. Tzovaras

B DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: F. Archontovasilis

SECRETARY GENERAL: G. Sabalis

SPECIAL SECRETARY: G. Agiomamitis

TREASURER:V. Drakopoulos

CONSULTANTS: D. Theodorou-M. Papoudos- N. Georgopoulos