Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Intubation Teams

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Infectious Disease Control
• Public Health

Background:

• Endotracheal intubation for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is an aerosol-generating procedure.
• Viral transmission to healthcare personnel during intubation is a significant concern.
• Proper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) are critical but time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Emory Healthcare intubation team's approach during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in preventing viral transmission among anesthesia providers.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a dedicated intubation team structure at Emory Healthcare.
• Adherence to strict protocols for donning and doffing personal protective equipment.
• Tracking of COVID-19 infection rates among involved anesthesia providers over a 6-week period.

Main Results:

• 253 patient intubations were performed over a 6-week period.
• 153 anesthesia providers were involved in the intubation procedures.
• Only 1 team member tested positive for COVID-19, indicating a low transmission rate.

Conclusions:

• The specialized intubation team approach was effective in minimizing COVID-19 transmission.
• This structured protocol protected healthcare workers during high-risk procedures.
• The model demonstrates a successful strategy for managing aerosol-generating procedures during a pandemic.