Bronchoscopy in times of the covid-19 pandemic. Organizational model and operating procedures experience of A.O. Dei colli, Naples

Summary SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) causes combined al-veolar-capillary lung damage, with bilateral pneumonia and thrombosis of the vessels resulting in respiratory failure. Expertise in airway management with invasive procedures such as gold-tracheal intubation and videobronchoscopy are required;procedures that expose healthcare professionals to inhalation of aerosols from the respiratory tract with very high infectious risk. In this work, the authors propose the organizational model and operating procedures applied by the clinical experience of the A.O. dei Colli (P.O. Monaldi-Cotugno, Naples) for the execution of videobronchoscopies in the COVID-19 era from 25/02/2020 to 30/04/2020 ensuring a high standard of protection for healthcare workers. These instruments have been used with a differentiated model in two paths: COVID area and non-COVID area. The authors emphasize that the application of this organizational model has allowed a high level of protection such that none of the operators has been infected, guaranteeing bronchological assistance to patients.