ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Robust personal protective equipment is essential in preventing the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 to head and neck surgeons who are routinely involved in aerosol generating procedures. OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the collective experience, across 3 institutes, of using a reusable half-face respirator in 72 head and neck surgery cases. METHOD: Cost analysis was performed to demonstrate the financial implications of using a reusable respirator compared to single-use filtering facepiece code 3 masks. CONCLUSION: The reusable respirator is a cost-effective alternative to disposable filtering facepiece code 3 respirators. Supplying reusable respirators to individual staff members may increase the likelihood of them having appropriate personal protective equipment during their clinical duties.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Coronavirus Infections/transmission , Equipment Reuse/economics , Pandemics/prevention & control , Personal Protective Equipment/economics , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/transmission , Aerosols , Betacoronavirus/isolation & purification , Body Fluids/virology , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Cost-Benefit Analysis/methods , Equipment Design , Female , Humans , Male , Occupational Exposure/prevention & control , Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Otolaryngology/statistics & numerical data , Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures/methods , Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures/standards , Personal Protective Equipment/supply & distribution , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/virology , SARS-CoV-2 , Surgeons/statistics & numerical data , Ventilators, Mechanical/adverse effects , Ventilators, Mechanical/virologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of a national audit of epistaxis management led and delivered by a multi-region trainee collaborative using a web-based interface to capture patient data. METHODS: Six trainee collaboratives across England nominated one site each and worked together to carry out this pilot. An encrypted data capture tool was adapted and installed within the infrastructure of a university secure server. Site-lead feedback was assessed through questionnaires. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with epistaxis were admitted over a two-week period. Site leads reported an average of 5 minutes to complete questionnaires and described the tool as easy to use. Data quality was high, with little missing data. Site-lead feedback showed high satisfaction ratings for the project (mean, 4.83 out of 5). CONCLUSION: This pilot showed that trainee collaboratives can work together to deliver an audit using an encrypted data capture tool cost-effectively, whilst maintaining the highest levels of data quality.
