Menu
  • Welcome
  • Resources
  • Webinars
  • News
  • Stats
  • Forums
  • Team
  • Contact
  • My Account
  • FR
  • Welcome
  • Resources
  • Webinars
  • News
  • Stats
  • Forums
  • Team
  • Contact
  • My Account
  • FR
home/Knowledge Base/Surgery

Guidelines: Tracheotomy

191 views 0 04/03/2020 05/02/2020 Noémie Desgagnés

  1. Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery strongly advise against performing a tracheotomy in still infectious COVID-19 patients.
    • In positive patients, requests for tracheotomy should generally not be considered regardless of duration of endotracheal intubation. 
  2. In emergency tracheotomy with unknown COVID-19 status: 
    • Manage patient as if COVID-19 positive. 
    • Intubation rather than tracheotomy is highly preferable.
    • Avoid use of high flow oxygen/high flow nasal cannula. 
    • Tracheotomy should always be performed by the most skilled and available airway manager (surgeon and anesthesiologist).
    • Limit team members to essential staff.
  3. All patients undergoing elective tracheotomy should be COVID-19 tested prior to the intervention:
    • Decision-making should take in consideration surgical and ICU team in COVID-19 positive patient. 
  4. Avoid circuit disconnection.
  5. Suction via closed circuit is recommended.
  6. Heat moister exchanger (HME) with viral filter or a ventilator filter should be placed if the tracheotomy tube is disconnected from mechanical ventilation. 
    • Avoid disconnecting HME but if necessary, disconnect distal to HME.
  7. Avoid postoperative tracheostomy tube changes until COVID-19 negative.

 

These recommendations come from documents produced by the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and ENT UK in regard of tracheotomy being a high-risk procedure because of aerosol-generation while in COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources :

  1. Engels P., Weitzel E., Witterick I., et al (March 22, 2020). Recommendations from the CSO-HNS Taskforce on Performance of Tracheotomy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Retrieved from https://www.entcanada.org/news-events/covid-19-alerts/
  2. Harrison L., Ramsden J., Winter S., et al (March 19, 2020). Guidance for Surgical Tracheostomy and Tracheostomy Tube Change during the COVID-19 pandemic. ENT UK. Retrieved from https://www.entuk.org/tracheostomy-guidance-during-covid-19-pandemic
  3. Noah P., A.Schiff B., A.Fritz M., et al (March 27, 2020). Tracheotomy Recommendations During the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Retrieved from  https://www.entnet.org/content/tracheotomy-recommendations-during-covid-19-pandemic

 

 

 

 

Tags:tracheotomy

Was this helpful?

Yes  No
Related Articles
  • Treatment simulation for Health Care Providers: Managing Suspected and Confirmed cases
  • Health Literacy
  • Guidelines: Aesthetic Clinic Reopening
  • Potential Effect of Complement Pathways in Thrombotic Microvascular Injury
  • Sleep Disturbance During the Confinement
  • Adapting treatment strategy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in the current pandemic context
Surgery
  • Guidelines: Tracheotomy
  • Colorectal Cancer: Management Suggestions
  • Localized Breast Cancer: Management Suggestions
  • Dermatological Surgery
  • Laparoscopy Procedure
  • Considerations for Gynecological Surgery
View All 10  
Popular Articles
  • Acute Acro-Ischemic Lesions in Children
  • Insights About Reinfection and Immunization
  • What Is the Efficacy of Masks in Preventing Transmission?
  • Acral Lesions: What We Know
  • Rationale of Old Antimalarial Drugs Against New Pandemic
Specialties
  • Endocrinology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Cardiology
  • Dental Surgery
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • ENT
  • Geriatrics and Palliative Care
  • Gastroenterology
  • Hematology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Intensive Care
  • Neurology
  • OB-GYN
  • Oncology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatrics
  • Pharmacology
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Protection of Healthcare Workers
  • Psychiatry
  • Public health
  • Other Internal Medicine Specialties
  • Radiology
  • Respirology
  • Stages of COVID-19 Infection
    • Presumption & Prevention
    • Screening & Diagnosis
    • Mild Infection
    • Moderate Infection
    • Severe Infection
    • Outcomes
  • Surgery
About How I Treat COVID-19

Our website is dedicated to helping healthcare professionals find accurate and up-to-date information about the best ways to manage and treat patients affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Navigation
  • Resources
  • News
  • Webinars
  • Forum
Useful Links
  • COVID-19 Protocols
  • Health Canada
  • WHO
  • CDC
Practice

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • How I Treat Covid-19 © 2020 Made with ♥ by Mondien