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When Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital
lost 80% of its surgical volume dur-
ing the initial wave of the coron-
avirus outbreak, the perioperative
team put the empty ORs to good use.
"We decided to intubate patients
outside of the ORs where procedures
were going to take place to avoid
exposing surgical team members to
aerosolized virus particles," says
Rebecca Barnett, MD, medical direc-
tor at TeamHealth in Tampa, Fla.
"Half of the hospital's ORs were left
unused, so we converted four of them
into dedicated intubation rooms."
Patients who arrived for emergent surgeries were wheeled into
an intubation room where a CRNA, who was outfitted in full PPE,
secured their airways. A fifth CRNA coordinated the movement of
patients between the intubation rooms and the ORs.
The CRNAs administered rapid-sequence intubation to avoid
ventilating patients. After they induced a patient and established
the airway, they immediately placed a viral filter over the endotra-
cheal tube and taped it in place before transporting the patient to
the OR. The CRNAs changed gloves and gowns, and wiped down
the face shields between intubations.
At the time, surgical team members had to leave ORs during
intubations and wait in the hallway for 20 minutes while the
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
A Team Approach to Intubation During COVID-19
READY FOR ACTION Anesthesia professionals at
Tampa General Hospital run through the process
of establishing airways in dedicated rooms.
Rebecca
Barnett,
MD
