Principles and philosophies, experiences and challenges associated with undertaking otorhinolaryngologic surgical practices and procedures in COVID-19 pandemic

Authors

  • Sharad Hernot Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
  • Apoorva Kumar Pandey Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
  • Madhuri Kaintura Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
  • Aparna Bhardwaj Department of Pathology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
  • Fatma Anjum Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
  • Sonal Kala Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
  • Kanika Arora Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20210156

Keywords:

COVID-19, Otorhinolaryngology, Pandemic, SARS CoV-2, Safety recommendations, Surgery

Abstract

Background: To highlight the changes, challenges, and safety recommendations associated with surgical management of a patient which were practiced effectively at our institute during the pandemic and share our experience.

Methods: This retrospective observational descriptive study conducted between 25th March 2020 and 31st October 2020 constitutes of following points covering various aspects of surgical management of patient such as- general precautions followed by otrorhinolaryngologist while doing OPD surgical procedures, while doing endoscopy, in every major operative elective or emergency surgical procedure. This study also mentions focussed considerations for specialised surgical procedures like otology surgeries, endoscopic sinus and skull base surgeries, airway surgeries, tracheostomy, head and neck carcinoma etc.  

Results: Of the 342 cases operated between 25th March 2020 and 31st October 2020 during this pandemic, 69 nasal surgeries, 83 ear surgeries, 37 throat surgeries, 37 head and neck surgeries, 26 oesophagoscopies, 17 bronchoscopies, 63 tracheostomies, and 10 cases of maxillofacial trauma were performed. 983 patients were taken up for endoscopic examination of the mucosa of the head and neck in OPD as an office-based procedure.

Conclusions: Through this study, we suggest a safety and recommendations procedural framework to be followed while managing surgical patients in a way to minimise the cross transmission of virus.

Author Biographies

Sharad Hernot, Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Assistant Professor
ENT department

Apoorva Kumar Pandey, Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Professor

ENT department

Madhuri Kaintura, Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Senior Resident
ENT department

Aparna Bhardwaj, Department of Pathology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Professor

Department of Pathology

Fatma Anjum, Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Junior Resident
ENT department

Sonal Kala, Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Junior Resident
ENT department

Kanika Arora, Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical And Health Sciences and Associated Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Patel Nagar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Junior Resident
ENT department

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Published

2021-01-25

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Section

Original Research Articles