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Emergency Tracheostomy in Two Airway Trauma Patients Suspected of COVID-19: A Case Report
Valiollah Hassani1, Saied Amniati1, Aslan Ahmadi2
1Pain Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Two trauma patients suspected of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) required emergency tracheostomy. This case highlights the critical need for personal protection measures when managing airway trauma in patients with potential COVID-19 infection.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Procedures
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic poses risks to healthcare personnel, particularly from silent carriers.
- Airway management in trauma patients requires stringent protective measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Silent COVID-19 carriers admitted for other reasons can pose a significant infection risk to medical staff.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and became a pandemic on Mar 11, according to the World Health Organization report. In the epidemic of COVID-19, many patients admitted to hospitals for other reasons may be silent carriers of COVID-19 and have the risk of infecting medical personnel. Thus, meticulous personal protection measures should be considered in suspicious patients, especially when close contact with the patient's airway is anticipated. We introduce two airway trauma patients suspected of COVID-19 who required emergency tracheostomy. Patient one was a 29-year-old man who suffered facial trauma following a car accident. A chest CT scan showed peripheral ground-glass opacities suggestive for COVID-19. The second patient was a young elevator mechanic who experienced maxillofacial trauma after an elevator crash. The methods of anesthesia and airway protection and safety precautions are described.
