Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jul;163(1):107-109. doi: 10.1177/0194599820928977. Epub 2020 May 19.
Diagnostic flexible laryngoscopy (DFL) is a critical tool in the armamentarium of an otolaryngologist. However, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, DFL represents a high-risk procedure for patients and otolaryngologists due to the risk of aerosolization. In cases where DFL is required, in patients with COVID-19 positivity or unknown COVID-19 status, we describe the use of a modified endoscopy face mask as an adjunct to personal protection equipment to reduce occupational transmission of COVID-19 while performing DFL. Our modified endoscopy mask provides an additional barrier against the transmission of airborne pathogens. The modified endoscopy face mask may also serve as a useful tool for otolaryngologists as they return to performing more aerosol-generating procedures in the outpatient setting.
诊断性可弯曲喉镜（DFL）是耳鼻喉科医生的重要工具之一。然而，在 COVID-19 大流行期间，由于气溶胶化的风险，DFL 对患者和耳鼻喉科医生来说是一种高风险的操作。在需要进行 DFL 的情况下，如果患者 COVID-19 检测呈阳性或 COVID-19 状态未知，我们描述了使用改良内镜面罩作为个人防护设备的辅助手段，以减少进行 DFL 时 COVID-19 的职业传播。我们改良的内镜面罩为防止空气传播病原体提供了额外的屏障。在耳鼻喉科医生开始在门诊环境中进行更多产生气溶胶的操作时，改良的内镜面罩也可能成为有用的工具。
