Tracheostomy Care in the Hospital and Community during COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been significant shifts in recommendations for managing tracheostomy patients both in the hospital and in the community. These recommendations include changes in surgical procedures, airway management, weaning, and instrumental assessments in COVID positive as well as COVID negative patients. Limiting or eliminating any aerosol generating procedure (AGP) with the goal to protect both patients and health care providers during this crisis has been crucial. With countries and clinics opening back up, new questions and considerations arise on how to do this safely.

International panel:

Dr Azor Carreras Alcaraz, MD.
Otolaryngologist, Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa, Barcelona, Spain

Miss Louise Edwards, BSc (Hons).
Consultant Speech and Language Therapist, The Children’s Trust, Tadworth, Surrey, UK

Prof Dr Thomas Hoffmann, MD, PhD.
Otolaryngologist and Medical Director of the ENT clinic, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany

Mr Asit Arora, PhD, DIC, DOHNS, FRCS(ORL-HNS).
ENT Airway Robotic Head and Neck Surgeon, Guys’ and St Thomas’ Hospitals, London, UK

Mrs Keri Danziger, MA
CCC-SLP Supervisor, Adult Inpatient Speech and Swallowing Services, Rusk Rehabilitation, New York University, New York, NY, USA

Reference mentioned during the discussion:

COVIDTrach; the outcomes of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy in the UK: Interim Report 22nd May 2020

Tracheostomy in the COVID-19 era: global and multidisciplinary guidance