Anaesthetic Management of Suspect COVID-19 Patient during a COVID-19 Pandemic Presenting for Emergency Limb Saving Surgery

Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis and has changed dynamics of health care by severely straining the resources for patients coming for both elective and emergency surgeries. Ultrasound guided nerve block has been a life saver in most covid-19 positive patients coming for emergency surgical procedures as they reduce the risk of general anaesthesia in a patient with already compromised lung physiology and also minimizes risk of aerosol contamination of the operation theatre and health care personnel. We describe the anaesthetic management of a 67year old male patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and sepsis for diabetic foot wound fasciotomy and wound debridement. The patient was operated under ultrasound guided popliteal sciatic and Saphenous nerve block of the right lower limb with all precautions taken to prevent covid spread as the patient had a high index of suspicion for covid-19. The patient was reported positive for RT-PCR in the postoperative period.