Apnoeic ventilation for shared airway surgery during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Issue 2 (8th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rotman, A.; Dando, A. J.; Shorthouse, J.; Girgis, M.; Nouraei, S. A. R.
• Is Part Of: Anaesthesia reports. Volume 8:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 163
• Page End: 165
• Publication Date: 2020-11-08
• Subjects: airway obstruction -- apnoeic oxygenation -- COVID‐19 -- jet ventilation; Anesthesiology -- Periodicals; 617.9605
• DOI: 10.1002/anr3.12082
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2637-3726

Abstract

Summary: This report describes the care provided to a 64‐year‐old woman presenting with airway obstruction following recovery from COVID‐19 pneumonitis, prolonged tracheal intubation and tracheostomy weaning. Her initial admission was with COVID‐19 pneumonitis during the first surge of cases in early 2020, and was complicated by multiple bilateral segmental pulmonary emboli, a 28‐day stay in intensive care, 16 days of mechanical ventilation and finally, a tracheostomy with subsequent weaning of respiratory support and rehabilitation. On presentation, her symptoms of airway obstruction were because of significant granuloma of the posterior glottis and subglottis, as well as a mild lambdoid deformity at the site of her previous tracheostomy. The key learning points described relate to the use of apnoeic oxygenation during the COVID‐19 pandemic, managing the shared airway, as well as the management of post‐intubation laryngotracheal complications.