Surviving the Struggle of COVID-19: Practical Recommendations for Pediatric/Adult Cardiology and Cardiac Surgical Programs in Resource-Limited Settings: a Review

Every year, millions of people are dying and millions more are disabled due to treatable cardiovascular diseases. Surgical capacity is unevenly distributed around the world and disproportionally affects populations in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). COVID-19 increases barriers for access to cardiac surgical care, and high- level action is urgently needed to not only expand cardiac services around the world but also to ensure health systems are strengthened so that cardiac patients can be effectively managed during and after the pandemic. The primary aim of this systematic review is to provide perioperative strategies to help restore or preserve cardiovascular services in LMICs under threat from financial and personnel constraints imposed by the pandemic.