Safe surgical tracheostomy during the COVID-19 pandemic: A protocol based on experiences with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and COVID-19 outbreaks in South Korea.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A subset of patients with COVID-19 require intensive respiratory care and tracheostomy. Several guidelines on tracheostomy procedures and care of tracheostomized patients have been introduced. In addition to these guidelines, further details of the procedure and perioperative care would be helpful. The purpose of this study is to describe our experience and tracheostomy protocol for patients with MERS or COVID-19.

Materials and methods

Thirteen patients with MERS were admitted to the ICU, 9 (69.2%) of whom underwent surgical tracheostomy. During the COVID-19 outbreak, surgical tracheostomy was performed in one of seven patients with COVID-19. We reviewed related documents and collected information through interviews with healthcare workers who had participated in

SUBMITTER: Choi SY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7298512 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature