3D Printed N-95 Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned.

Early in 2020, the pandemic resulted in an enormous demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), which consists of face masks, face shields, respirators, and gowns. At our institution, at the request of hospital administration, the Lifespan 3D Printing Laboratory spearheaded an initiative to produce reusable N95 masks for use in the hospital setting. Through this article, we seek to detail our experience designing and 3D printing an N95 mask, highlighting the most important lessons learned throughout the process. Foremost among these, we were successful in producing a non-commercial N95 alternative mask which could be used in an era when N95 materials were extremely limited in supply. We identified five key lessons related to design software, 3D printed material airtightness, breathability and humidity dispersal, and ability for communication. By sharing our experience and the most valuable lessons we learned through this process, we hope to provide a helpful foundation for future 3D-printed N95 endeavors.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Plastic Surgery Consultations in the Emergency Department.

Stay-at-Home (SAH) orders implemented in the United States to combat COVID-19 had a significant impact on health care delivery for patients with all conditions. In this study, we examined the effect SAH orders had on the Emergency Department (ED) consultation volume, injury patterns, and treatment of patients managed by our plastic surgery service. METHODS: In Rhode Island, SAH orders were instituted from March 28, 2020, to June 30, 2020. A retrospective chart review of patients presenting to our Level-1 academic medical center was performed. Patient demographics, types of injuries, and need for treatment in the ED or operating room (OR) were collected. Tests of significance were conducted using a comparison group spanning the same time period, in 2019. RESULTS: There was a 36% decrease in ED consultations to plastic surgery during SAH orders when compared with those in 2019. No observed differences were noted in patient demographics between time periods. There were significant increases in the proportions of hand injuries secondary to power tools and facial injuries secondary to falls. No observed differences were identified in injury severity and need for either operating-room interventions or ED interventions for patients seen in consultation during SAH orders. CONCLUSIONS: SAH orders resulted in a decreased volume of plastic surgery consults in the ED but did not alter patient demographics, injury severity, or need for procedural interventions. There was a 2.9% positivity rate for COVID-19 for asymptomatic patients presenting in the ED with primary hand and facial injuries.