Angamuthu, N;
Geraldine Gagasa, E;
Baker, D;
Tsui, J;
Evan D’Souza, R;
(2021)
Transmission of infection among health care personnel performing surgical tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients.
The Surgeon
10.1016/j.surge.2021.01.007.
(In press).
Preview |
Text
Tsui_main.pdf - Accepted Version Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Background: Staff and patient safety are of paramount importance while performing a surgical tracheostomy(ST) during the corona virus disease(COVID-19) pandemic. The aim was to assess the incidence of COVID-19 infection among the healthcare personnel(HCP) performing ST on COVID-19 patients. / Methods: One hundred and twenty-two HCP participating in 71 ST procedures performed at our institution between 26th March 2020 and 27th May 2020 were identified. A COVID-19 health questionnaire was distributed among staff with their consent. Data related to the presence of COVID-19 symptoms(new onset continuous cough, fever, loss of taste and/or loss of smell) among HCP involved in ST as well as patient related data were collected. / Results: Of the HCP who responded, eleven(15%,11/72) reported key COVID-19 symptoms and went into self-isolation. Ten members from this group underwent a COVID-19 swab test and three tested positive. Only one HCP attended hospital for symptomatic treatment, none required hospitalisation. Sixty percent(43/72) of the responders had a COVID-19 antibody test with a positive rate of 18.6%(8/43). Among the patients undergoing a ST, 67%(37/55) required a direct intensive care unit(ICU) admission; the mean age was 58 years(29-78) with a male preponderance(65.5%). The median time from intubation to ST was 15 days (range 5-33,IQR=9). The overall mortality was 11%(6/55). / Conclusions: ST can be carried out safely with strict adherence to both, personnel protective equipment and ST protocols which are vital to mitigate the potential transmission of COVID-19 to the HCP.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Transmission of infection among health care personnel performing surgical tracheostomies on COVID-19 patients |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.surge.2021.01.007 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surge.2021.01.007 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Tracheostomy, COVID-19, pandemic, transmission, health personnel, protocol, aerosol, high risk, surgical procedure, operative, SARS-CoV-2, disease transmission, infectious |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci > Department of Surgical Biotechnology |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10122098 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
