ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has not been precisely known in bronchoscopy procedures. We have designed a cabinet device called Ankara University Bronchoscopy Cabinet (Aubrocab®) to protect healthcare. We aimed to evaluate preventing effect of Aubrocab® on aerosol spreading by measuring the particles in the bronchoscopy suite. METHODS: The patients were categorized into two groups as those who underwent bronchoscopy with and without Aubrocab®. We measured PM 0.5 levels before and after bronchoscopy in the bronchoscopy suite. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients, 62 of whom underwent bronchoscopy with Aubrocab®, were enrolled in the study. The PM 0.5 level measured before bronchoscopy was similar in both groups, whereas the PM 0.5 level measured after bronchoscopy was lower in the Aubrocab® group (42,603 ± 8,632 vs. 50,377 ± 10,487, p = 0.001). The percent of particle change (50.76 ± 19.91 vs 67.15 ± 24.24, p = 0.003) and the difference of the particle numbers between pre and postprocedure (13,638 ± 4,292 and 19,501 ± 5,891, p < 0.001) were lower in the Aubrocab® group. DISCUSSION: Our institution developed a barrier device named Aubrocab® which was shown to prevent excessive aerosol release in addition to routine precautions during bronchoscopy procedures.