Open AccessProtection of Medical Staff during Tracheotomy: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Dong Hoon Lee,
Subin Kim,
Ji Sun Kim,
Byung Guk Kim,
KiHong Chang,
Jun Ook Park
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
orl
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.481
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1423-0275
pISSN - 0301-1569
DOI - 10.1159/000511012
Subject(s) - tracheotomy , personal protective equipment , pandemic , covid-19 , medicine , isolation (microbiology) , medical emergency , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , surgery , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , bioinformatics , biology
Background: During the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, tracheotomy under emergency situation is considered a high-risk procedure that causes probable expose to aerosolized secretion. Summary: We reviewed our case and previous reports, and summarized a detailed protocol that is needed to protect medical staffs who perform tracheotomy under the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the patient’s condition, experience of medical staff members, and available facilities and equipment. Key Messages: For efficient protection of medical staff who perform tracheotomy under the COVID-19 pandemic period, we suggest that the following needs to be considered: assessment of patient’s condition (COVID-19 infection and the airway problem), route (safest route to the operating room), experienced surgical team, negative-pressure isolation facility and appliance (personal protective equipment) availability, and safe and appropriate post-tracheotomy care.