Performance of tracheotomy is a potential necessary step in the patient with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Due to viral aerosolization, tracheotomy carries a high risk of transmission of COVID-19 to the health care team performing the procedure. We share our institution’s surgical safety checklist for performing tracheotomy in patients with COVID-19, including key modifications intended to mitigate risk to the surgical team.
WuZMcGooganJM. Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: summary of a report of 72314 cases from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention [published online February24, 2020]. JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.2648
2.
PostonJTPatelBKDavisAM. Management of critically ill adults with COVID-19 [published online March26, 2020]. JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.4914.
3.
Chee VictorWTKhoo MarkL-CLee SowFLai YeowCChin NgekM. Infection control measures for operative procedures in severe acute respiratory syndrome–related patients. Anesthesiology. 2004;100(6):1394-1398.
4.
GiviBSchiffBAChinnSB, et al. Safety recommendations for evaluation and surgery of the head and neck during the COVID-19 pandemic [published online March31, 2020]. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.0780
5.
ZouLRuanFHuangM, et al. SARS-CoV-2 viral load in upper respiratory specimens of infected patients. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(12):1177-79.
6.
ToKKTsangOTLeungWS, et al. Temporal profiles of viral load in posterior oropharyngeal saliva samples and serum antibody responses during infection by SARS-CoV-2: an observational cohort study [published online March23, 2020]. Lancet Infect Dis. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30196-1
7.
TayJKKhooML-CLohWS. Surgical considerations for tracheostomy during the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned from the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak [published online March31, 2020]. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.0764
8.
TienHCChughtaiTJogeklarACooperABBrennemanF. Elective and emergency surgery in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Can J Surg. 2005;48(1):71-74.
9.
WeiWITuenHHNgRWLamLK. Safe tracheostomy for patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Laryngoscope. 2003;113(10):1777-1779.
10.
HaynesABWeiserTGBerryWR, et al. A surgical safety checklist to reduce morbidity and mortality in a global population. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(5):491-499.
11.
World Health Organization. WHO Guidelines for Safe Surgery: Safe Surgery Saves Lives. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2009.
12.
DelisleMPradarelliJCPandaN, et al. Variation in global uptake of the surgical safety checklist. Br J Surg. 2020;107(2):e151-e60.
13.
UrbachDRDimickJBHaynesABGawandeAA. Is WHO’s surgical safety checklist being hyped?BMJ. 2019;366:l4700.
14.
RamsayGHaynesABLipsitzSR, et al. Reducing surgical mortality in Scotland by use of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. Br J Surg. 2019;106(8):1005-1011.
15.
GlobalSurg Collaborative. Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy. Br J Surg. 2019;106(2):e103-e12.
