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. 2020 Jul;22(4):440-444.
doi: 10.1017/cem.2020.353.

Just the Facts: Airway management during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

George Kovacs  1 , Nicholas Sowers  1 , Samuel Campbell  1 , James French  2 , Paul Atkinson  2
Affiliations

Just the Facts: Airway management during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic

George Kovacs et al. CJEM. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

A previously healthy 42-year-old male developed a fever and cough shortly after returning to Canada from overseas. Initially, he had mild upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and a cough. He was aware of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and the advisory to self-isolate and did so; however, he developed increasing respiratory distress over several days and called 911. On arrival at the emergency department (ED), his heart rate was 130 beats/min, respiratory rate 32 per/min, and oxygenation saturation 82% on room air. As per emergency medical services (EMS) protocol, they placed him on nasal prongs under a surgical mask at 5 L/min and his oxygen saturation improved to 86%.

Keywords: Airway management; coronavirus; hazard control measures.

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Conflict of interest statement

Lead author is Co-Medical Director of a CAEP-sponsored airway education program, Airway Interventions & Management in Emergencies (AIME).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Emergency RSI airway management visual aid.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Modified BVM with Viral Filter, ETCO2, flexible mount (allows for more range of motion of device and less of a fulcrum at face) attached to BVM with PEEP valve and pressure monometer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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