A
s the president of
a full-service anes-
thesia group, my
number one goal
has always been to
protect my staff and our patients.
That priority has certainly been
put to the test during the pan-
demic. My group's providers
implemented a number of new
airway management policies and
infection prevention protocols
after the first wave hit to ensure
we could continue to provide
safe patient care. I believe some
of the steps we've taken to mini-
mize exposure risks to COVID-19
have improved our overall prac-
tices and should remain in place
when surgery's regular routines
finally return.
Securing airways
Airway management requirements
and recommendations updated
during the pandemic have made
us reevaluate how to best protect
providers from the coronavirus,
which is found in sputum and
upper airway secretions and dis-
seminated in air droplets during
aerosol-producing intubations.
We've tested many different safety methods, includ-
ing the use of rigid and flexible clear plastic intuba-
tion boxes. Their use made sense in theory — they
prevent the spread of the coronavirus by containing
aerosols generated during intubation— but some
studies have questioned their effectiveness, so we
stopped using them on a routine basis. Instead, the
providers use the boxes during cases that could
cause the patient to cough.
The CDC suggests having the most experienced
airway professionals on staff perform intubations.
We followed that guidance and have a second anes-
thesia provider stationed by the OR door, closely
watching the procedure and standing by ready to
4 6 • O U T P A T I
E
N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A R C H 2 0 2 1
Has COVID-19 Changed
Anesthesia Care for Good?
The pandemic put renewed focus on
airway management and infection control practices.
Pam Wrobleski, DNAP, MPM, RN, CRNA, CASC I Sutersville, Pa.
All
photos
by
Pam
Wrobleski
GEARED UP Anesthesia providers have been forced to wear additional layers of protection during the pandemic.
