Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2021; 25(04): e621-e627
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736424
Review Article
Special Article COVID-19

Ear, Nose, and Throat Practice Guidelines: An Update for COVID-19

Sahil Kapoor 
1   Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
,
Ayushi Gupta 
1   Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
,
Poonam Kumar Saidha 
1   Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
› Further Information
Also available at
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Introduction Amidst another wave of COVID-19, the alarming number of cases per day in India has affected the healthcare system and professionals tremendously. As the disease burden continues to increase, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists remain at high risk of exposure to this aerosol borne virus. This requires the creation and regulation of protocols for conducting routine clinical practice, especially by ENT specialists.

Objectives To review the available literature and to propose strategies and recommendations for ENT practitioners to conduct their regular practice amidst this pandemic.

Data synthesis A systematic review of the available literature on ENT practice during the COVID-19 pandemic was done. Out of the many protocols proposed in various studies, the most practical and feasible ones that could be adopted by practicing ENT doctors/ surgeons in the long run were selected. Adequate precautions and use of high level of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to be adopted by all practicing ENT doctors. Use of teleconsultation has been promoted as it limits face-to-face exposure. Proper guidelines should be followed for both emergency and elective surgeries. Endoscopy can be used as a safe and useful tool for ENT examination.

Conclusion As practicing otorhinolaryngologists, it is of utmost importance that we take all necessary precautions and adopt safety measures in our clinical practice while conducting out patient department (OPD) consultations, operative procedures, and emergency care to protect our patients, ourselves, and other healthcare staff during this time.

Keywords

COVID-19 - otorhinolaryngology guidelines - tracheostomy - SARS-CoV-2

Ethics Clearance

Obtained from institutional ethics committee.




Publication History

Received: 07 May 2021

Accepted: 04 August 2021

Article published online:
29 October 2021

© 2021. Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 

  • References:

  • 1 Revathishree K, Shyam Sudhakar S, Indu R, Srinivasan K. Covid-19 Demographics from a Tertiary Care Center: Does It Depreciate Quality-of-Life?. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020; •••: 1-8
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Dao TL, Hoang VT, Gautret P. Recurrence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in recovered COVID-19 patients: a narrative review. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 40 (01) 13-25
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Tysome JR. Improving clinical practice in ENT: Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. Clin Otolaryngol 2021; 46 (02) 295-296
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Mick P, Murphy R. Aerosol-generating otolaryngology procedures and the need for enhanced PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic: a literature review. J of Otolaryngol – Head & Neck Surg 2020; 49 (29)
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Greenhalgh T, Jimenez JL, Prather KA, Tufekci Z, Fisman D, Schooley R. Ten scientific reasons in support of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. 2021 . Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00869-2 www.thelancet.com
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Marchioni D, Bisi N, Molteni G, Rubini A. Covid-19 and ENT practice: Our experience: ENT outpatient department, ward and operating room management during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Am J Otolaryngol 2020; Nov-Dec; 41 (06) 102676
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 EMW filtertechnik ISO 29463: new test standard for HEPA filters. [cited 2020 Jun 3]. Available from: https://www.emw.de/en/filter-campus/iso29463.html
  • 8 Cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19. WHO/2019-nCoV/Disinfection/2020.1
  • 9 Lescanne E, van der Mee-Marquet N, Juvanon JM. et al. Best practice recommendations: ENT consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2020; 137 (04) 303-308
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Thai-Van H, Bakhos D, Bouccara D, Loundon N, Marx M, Mom T. et al. Telemedicine in Audiology. Best practice recommendations from the French Society of Audiology (SFA) and the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (SFORL). Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2021; Oct; 138 (05) 363-375
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Di Saverio S, Pata F, Gallo G. et al. Coronavirus pandemic and colorectal surgery: practical advice based on the Italian experience. Colorectal Dis 2020; 22 (06) 625-634
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL). NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators. 2020 [cited 2020 Apr 12]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/default.html
  • 13 Yeolekar A, Bhalerao S, Bhalerao M. The New Normal of ENT OPD: Adapting Safe Practices. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020; •••: 1-7
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Jewett DL, Heinsohn P, Bennett C, Rosen A, Neuilly C. Blood-containing aerosols generated by surgical techniques: a possible infectious hazard. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1992; 53 (04) 228-231
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Yeh H, Turner R, Jones R, Muggenburg B, Lundgren D, Smith J. Characterization of aerosols produced during surgical Procedures in hospitals. Aerosol Sci Technol 1995; 22 (02) 151-161
    CrossrefSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Hassan MS, Trotter MI. Protection from epistaxis blood aerosol contamination: a novel use of a surgical facemask. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2003; 260 (05) 242-243
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Givi B, Schiff BA, Chinn SB. et al. Safety Recommendations for Evaluation and Surgery of the Head and Neck During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020; 146 (06) 579-584
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Davies E, Hopkins C, Harries P, Walker A, Heward E. COVID-19 Epistaxis Management. ENT UK. 2020. [Internet]. Available from: https://www.entuk.org/sites/default/files/files/COVID%2019%20Epistaxis%20Management.pdf
  • 19 Malhotra N, Bajwa SJS, Joshi M, Mehdiratta L, Trikha A. COVID Operation Theatre- Advisory and Position Statement of Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists (ISA National). Indian J Anaesth 2020; 64 (05) 355-362
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Yánez Benítez C, Ribeiro Jr MAF, Alexandrino H. et al. International cooperation group of emergency surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2021; 47 (03) 621-629
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 Bressler K, Shelton C. Ear foreign-body removal: a review of 98 consecutive cases. Laryngoscope 1993; 103 (4 Pt 1): 367-370
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Sebastian GP, Subbarayan R, Nagarajan S. Foreign Bodies Surpassed in Ear, Nose, Throat during COVID-19 Lockdown: Triage and Challenges. Ann Clin Otolaryngol 2020; 5 (02) 1045
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 23 McGrath BA, Brenner MJ, Warrillow SJ. et al. Tracheostomy in the COVID-19 era: global and multidisciplinary guidance. Lancet Respir Med 2020; 8 (07) 717-725
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Liew MF, Siow WT, MacLaren G, See KC. Preparing for COVID-19: early experience from an intensive care unit in Singapore. Crit Care 2020; Mar 9; 24 (01) 83
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Chee VW, Khoo ML, Lee SF, Lai YC, Chin NM. Infection control measures for operative procedures in severe acute respiratory syndrome-related patients. Anesthesiology 2004; 100 (06) 1394-1398
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 26 Repici A, Maselli R, Colombo M. et al. Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: what the department of endoscopy should know. Gastrointest Endosc 2020; S0016-5107 (20) 30245–5
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 27 Yánez Benítez C, Güemes A, Aranda J. et al; International Cooperation Group on PPE and Emergency Surgery. Impact of Personal Protective Equipment on Surgical Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic. World J Surg 2020; 44 (09) 2842-2847
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Zou L, Ruan F, Huang M. et al. SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load in Upper Respiratory Specimens of Infected Patients. N Engl J Med 2020; 382 (12) 1177-1179
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Ambulkar RP, Singh P, Divatia J. Surgical safety checklist in the COVID era. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol 2020; 36 (03) 289-290 https://www.joacp.org/text.asp?2020/36/3/289/298279
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 30 Mishra P, Jedge P, Kaushik M, Artham P, Kumari S. Our Experience of Tracheostomy in COVID-19 Patients. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020; Aug 10: 1-4
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar