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Full-Text Articles in Anesthesiology
Post-Operative Use Of Hme Filter‑Protected Open Tracheostomy Circuit During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Way Siong Koh, Irene Ng, Megan Downing
Post-Operative Use Of Hme Filter‑Protected Open Tracheostomy Circuit During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Way Siong Koh, Irene Ng, Megan Downing
Journal of Perioperative Nursing
Introduction
In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, the avoidance of aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) is paramount to reduce the risk of viral transmission to staff and other patients. Perioperative management of a new tracheostomy is challenging as routine care, such as suctioning, frequently involves AGPs.
Methods
We developed and implemented an apparatus called the heat and moisture exchanger (HME) filter-protected open circuit. This enabled closed suctioning to be performed and allowed spontaneously breathing patients to be managed with an open circuit in a shared environment while reducing the risk of viral aerosolisation. We performed a prospective observational study of …