DECISION FOR ELECTIVE TRACHEOTOMY IN COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS
- Tracheotomy should not be performed in the “person under
investigation” population unless deemed an emergency
- For all planned tracheotomy procedures, patients are required to have
two negative COVID-19 swabs (separated by 24 hours) from the
nasopharynx. This may be dependent on institution, but at this medical
center, 2 negative nasopharyngeal swabs is thought to be adequate
based on discussion with infectious disease faculty.
- Consider early tracheotomy (in non-COVID +) for intubated patients
that may require long-term ventilation to free up ICU space and
ventilators
- If elective tracheotomy is necessary on COVID negative patients with
two negative swabs negative testing (above part 2), this can proceed
as normal. However, it is still advised to use airway precautions.
However, it is still advised to implement the same precautions as with
SARS-CoV-2 positive patients if resources allow.