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Apnoeic ventilation for shared airway surgery during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Rotman A.,
Dando A. J.,
Shorthouse J.,
Girgis M.,
Nouraei S. A. R.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
anaesthesia reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2637-3726
DOI - 10.1002/anr3.12082
Subject(s) - medicine , glottis , airway obstruction , intubation , mechanical ventilation , tracheotomy , airway , intensive care , anesthesia , subglottis , tracheal intubation , intensive care unit , surgery , ventilation (architecture) , intensive care medicine , larynx , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary This report describes the care provided to a 64‐year‐old woman presenting with airway obstruction following recovery from COVID‐19 pneumonitis, prolonged tracheal intubation and tracheostomy weaning. Her initial admission was with COVID‐19 pneumonitis during the first surge of cases in early 2020, and was complicated by multiple bilateral segmental pulmonary emboli, a 28‐day stay in intensive care, 16 days of mechanical ventilation and finally, a tracheostomy with subsequent weaning of respiratory support and rehabilitation. On presentation, her symptoms of airway obstruction were because of significant granuloma of the posterior glottis and subglottis, as well as a mild lambdoid deformity at the site of her previous tracheostomy. The key learning points described relate to the use of apnoeic oxygenation during the COVID‐19 pandemic, managing the shared airway, as well as the management of post‐intubation laryngotracheal complications.