Care of Patients With a Laryngectomy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Patients with a laryngectomy are at increased risk for droplet-transmitted diseases and, therefore, COVID-19, which has now caused a worldwide pandemic. Adaptive measures to protect patients with a laryngectomy and their families were designed and implemented in the Hong Kong SAR (HK). Driven by the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery 2020-10, Vol.163 (4), p.695-698
Main Authors: Yeung, David C. M., Lai, Ronald, Wong, Eddy W. Y., Chan, Jason Y. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Betacoronavirus
Comorbidity
Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections - transmission
COVID-19
Disease Management
Disease Transmission, Infectious - prevention & control
ENT
head and neck cancer
Head and Neck Neoplasms - epidemiology
Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery
Hong Kong
Humans
Laryngectomy
laryngectomy stoma
oncology
otolaryngology
otorhinolaryngology
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral - transmission
SARS-CoV-2
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Summary:Patients with a laryngectomy are at increased risk for droplet-transmitted diseases and, therefore, COVID-19, which has now caused a worldwide pandemic. Adaptive measures to protect patients with a laryngectomy and their families were designed and implemented in the Hong Kong SAR (HK). Driven by the fear of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, hospitals in HK have since modified infection control routines to prevent a repeat public health nightmare. To face COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, we have adapted guidelines for our patients with a laryngectomy. Contact precautions, droplet precautions with physical barriers, and hand and equipment hygiene are our mainstays of prevention against COVID-19, and sharing these routines is the aim of this article. The COVID-19 pandemic is still roaring ahead. Awareness and precautions for patients with a laryngectomy who may be at higher risk are outlined here and should be maintained during the current pandemic.
ISSN:0194-5998
1097-6817
DOI:10.1177/0194599820933185