5 Key points:
- As an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP), tracheostomy poses
significant viral transmissions risks to health care workers
- The decision about tracheostomy method and optimal setting depends on
a multitude of local factors with no available studies to suggest the
superior option
- We describe our effective, safe and swift approach to bedside open
tracheostomy during the COVID-19 pandemic
- A key approach in performing an effective bedside tracheostomy is to
ensure that the procedure is standardised and performed by highly
experienced surgeons, anaesthetist and scrub team.
- Our experience with bedside open tracheostomy demonstrated a short
mean procedural time, with no tracheostomy-related complications and
no reported viral transmission amongst the healthcare members
involved.
Key words: Tracheostomy, Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2,
Aerosol-generating procedure