Droplet Exposure Risk to Providers From In-Office Flexible Laryngoscopy: A COVID-19 Simulation.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
; 164(1): 93-96, 2021 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-719525
ABSTRACT
To provide data on risk of respiratory droplets from common otolaryngologic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, a novel simulation of droplet exposure from flexible laryngoscopy was performed. After completion of a nasal symptom questionnaire, topical fluorescein spray was administered into the nasal and oropharynx of 10 healthy volunteers, who then underwent flexible laryngoscopy under 2 conditions routine without provoked response and with prompted sneeze/cough. After each, droplets on the proceduralist and participant were counted under ultraviolet A light. Droplets were observed on 1 of 10 volunteers after routine laryngoscopy and 4 of 10 during laryngoscopy with sneeze/cough. A nasal symptom score based on congestion and rhinorrhea was significantly elevated among droplet producers after sneeze/cough (P = .0164). No droplets were observed on the provider. Overall, with adequate personal protective equipment, flexible laryngoscopy poses minimal droplet risk to providers. Nasal symptoms can identify patients more likely to produce droplets after sneeze/cough.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases
/
Health Personnel
/
Disease Transmission, Infectious
/
Pandemics
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Laryngoscopy
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
Journal subject:
Otolaryngology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
0194599820952800
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