Personal protection and delivery of rhinologic and endoscopic skull base procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak
Laura Van Gerven, Peter W. Hellings, Tony Cox, Wytske J. Fokkens, Claire Hopkins, Valérie Hox, Mark Jorissen, Art Schuermans, Pieter Sinonquel, Kato Speleman, Vincent Vander Poorten, Klara Van Gool, Thibaut Van Zele, Isam Alobid
Abstract
On March 11th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 pandemic, with subsequent profound impact on the entire health care system. During the COVID-19 outbreak, activities in the rhinology outpatient clinic and operation rooms are limited to emergency care only. Health care practitioners are faced with the need to perform rhinological and skull base emergency procedures in patients with a positive or unknown COVID-19 status. This article aims to provide recommendations and relevant information for rhinologists, based on the limited amount of (anecdotal) data, to guarantee high-quality patient care and adequate levels of infection prevention in the rhinology clinic.