Protection for Otolaryngologic Surgery in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Otolaryngology
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges to healthcare, particularly in otolaryngology, due to the high risk of aerosolization during procedures.
• SARS-CoV-2 is highly transmissible, with elevated viral loads in the upper airways of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on personal protective equipment (PPE) and surgical restrictions for otolaryngologic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To develop recommendations for surgical procedures based on aerosolization risk and COVID-19 status, specifying appropriate PPE.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases.
• Consultation of guidelines from CDC, NIOSH, and FDA.
• Analysis of personal protective equipment and surgical indication restrictions.

Main Results:

• Otolaryngologic procedures are classified as high-risk for aerosol generation.
• Patients with COVID-19, regardless of symptoms, have high upper airway viral loads, increasing transmission risk.
• Surgical procedures require categorization based on aerosolization risk and COVID-19 diagnosis to guide PPE selection.

Conclusions:

• Effective categorization of surgical procedures and appropriate use of PPE are crucial for minimizing infection transmission in otolaryngology.
• This review offers essential guidance for the otolaryngology community to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection risks during surgical interventions.