Use of Bronchoscopy/Esophagoscopy/Laryngoscopy in Low-Risk
COVID-19 Patients
Follow OR pathway guidelines in Figure 1
- If patient tests COVID negative in last 24-48 hours
- Personnel only need standard PPE, see Table 1
- If newly symptomatic, discuss retesting and using more robust PPE
- If patient is asymptomatic with no recent travel or sick
contacts
- 3 days prior to surgery, call patient in to test them
- Ask patients to maintain quarantine until surgery
- Call patients 1 day before surgery and inform them of results and
inquire about new onset symptoms, fevers, travel, or contact with
COVID-19 infected persons 12
- If testing is not available, call 1 day before surgery and ascertain
if symptomatic or recent travel/sick contacts
- If symptomatic or recent travel or sick contacts, this patient is
now high-risk
- In places with high COVID-19 prevalence, due to the possibility of
occult infections, full PPE should still be worn during
bronchoscopies if negative 11
- Detailed use of PPE is detailed in Table 1