Revised recommendations from the CSO-HNS taskforce on performance of tracheotomy during the COVID-19 pandemic – what a difference a year makes

Table 1 Summary of changes comparing previous and current taskforce recommendations

	Previous taskforce recommendation	Current (revised) taskforce recommendation
Covid transmission risk	Suspected to be low only after the patient tested negative with RT-PCR (regardless of time/duration of symptoms)	Evidence suggests being low if > 20 days from initial symptom onset/initial positive COVID RT-PCR test and > 2 weeks of mechanical ventilation.
Vaccination status	N/A	If available, vaccination of surgical/anesthetic/HCW team involved.
Surgical technique	Preference for open tracheotomy	Open or percutaneous tracheotomy appear to have similar outcomes and risks to the patient and HCWs involved.

RT-PCR reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, HCW healthcare workers

ISSN: 1916-0216