Tracheostomy Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: To compile current best practices regarding tracheostomy decision making, care, and technical performance during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Data sources: Articles listed in PubMed and Google sources for up-to-date information.

Review methods: All sources presenting objective evidence related to the topic were reviewed and distilled.

Conclusions: Tracheostomy in patients with coronavirus disease should be a rare event yet one that requires significant decision making and procedural deliberation. Indications for surgery must be balanced by risk of disease transmission to health care workers. Considerations are given to personal protective equipment, viral testing, and alternatives.

Implications for practice: Otolaryngologists worldwide must be aware of these considerations to provide safe patient care without undue risk to themselves or their hospital coworkers.