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Tracheostomy protocols during COVID ‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Heyd Cameron P.,
Desiato Vincent M.,
Nguyen Shaun A.,
O'Rourke Ashli K.,
Clemmens Clarice S.,
Awad Mahmoud I.,
Worley Mitchell L.,
Day Terry A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.26192
Subject(s) - pandemic , medicine , context (archaeology) , specialty , covid-19 , tracheotomy , medical emergency , anesthesiology , personal protective equipment , perioperative , otorhinolaryngology , intensive care medicine , health care , medline , emergency medicine , family medicine , surgery , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , paleontology , anesthesia , political science , law , economics , biology , economic growth
Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in the implementation of rapidly changing protocols and guidelines related to the indications and perioperative precautions and protocols for tracheostomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate current guidelines for tracheostomy during the COVID‐19 pandemic to provide a framework for health systems to prepare as the science evolves over the upcoming months and years. Methods Literature review was performed. Articles reporting clinical practice guidelines for tracheostomy in the context of COVID‐19 were included. Results A total of 13 tracheotomy guidelines were identified. Two were available via PubMed, five in society or organization websites, and six identified via health system websites or other sources. Five were from Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery specialties, six from Anesthesiology and one from Pulmonary/Critical Care. All (100%) studies recommended postponing elective OR cases in COVID‐19 positive patients, while seven recommended reducing team members to only essential staff and three recommended forming a designated tracheostomy team. Recommendations with supporting references are summarized in the article. Conclusions Tracheostomy guidelines during the COVID‐19 pandemic vary by physician groups and specialty, hospital systems, and supply‐chain/resource availability. This summary is provided as a point‐in‐time current state of the guidelines for tracheotomy management in April 2020 and is expected to change in coming weeks and months as the COVID‐19 pandemic, virus testing and antibody testing evolves.