Tracheostomy and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

delme A seGooSarY aim was to hrleflY rieReiew the.Ilteratore for tflie effectiveness Of sorRiGal rilasks N-95 an FFP r Pirators. arld ePoosvitter air rifying respirators (PAPRiis) irt reducing transmission of respiratory viral attention h Ith care wforkerils while performing trach orriyiPPeucorriimendatirtns are mainly derived from clinical case seriesEretrospective observsatt 10neaal studies rorri e SAPS 2003/2004 outbreaks or e)rperimental evidence for effectiveness for N-95/FFP-3 respirators arid PAPRs, Differences do OCCUr dLie to lack of evidence for COVID-19 as to wiiriether N-95 and FFP-3 respirators are sufficient, or PAPFZs should be recommended for tracheostomy. We would recommend adoptirig a conservative (proteptive) approaph for HOWs tearris perforrriirig tracheostornies, by routinely utilizing additional PPE such as PAPRs. Recommendations for the timing of trapheostomy also varied, however, almost all recommend a period of delay. The optimum duration of which is still u riiclear