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Health workers' safety during tracheostomy in COVID ‐19 patients: Homemade protective screen
Author(s) -
Cordier PierreYves,
De La Villeon Bruno,
Martin Edouard,
Goudard Yvain,
Haen Pierre
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.26222
Subject(s) - personal protective equipment , context (archaeology) , covid-19 , medicine , external fixator , transmission (telecommunications) , health care , medical emergency , intensive care medicine , computer science , surgery , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , economics , economic growth , paleontology , telecommunications , biology
As an aerosol and droplets generating procedure, tracheostomy increases contamination risks for health workers in the coronavirus disease context. To preserve the health care system capacity and to limit virus cross‐transmission, protecting caregivers against coronavirus infection is of critical importance. We report the use of external fixator equipment to set up a physical interface between the patient's neck and the caregiver performing a tracheostomy in COVID‐19 patients. Once the metal frame set in place, it is wrapped with a single‐use clear and sterile cover for surgical C‐arm. This installation is simple, easy, and fast to achieve and can be carried out with inexpensive material available in every hospital. This physical interface is an additional safety measure that prevents the direct projection of secretions or droplets. It should, of course, only be considered as a complement to strict compliance with barrier precautions and personal protective equipment.