DECISION FOR ELECTIVE TRACHEOTOMY IN COVID-19 NEGATIVE PATIENTS
  1. Tracheotomy should not be performed in the “person under investigation” population unless deemed an emergency
  2. For all planned tracheotomy procedures, patients are required to have two negative COVID-19 swabs (separated by 24 hours) from the nasopharynx. This may be dependent on institution, but at this medical center, 2 negative nasopharyngeal swabs is thought to be adequate based on discussion with infectious disease faculty.
  3. Consider early tracheotomy (in non-COVID +) for intubated patients that may require long-term ventilation to free up ICU space and ventilators
  4. If elective tracheotomy is necessary on COVID negative patients with two negative swabs negative testing (above part 2), this can proceed as normal. However, it is still advised to use airway precautions. However, it is still advised to implement the same precautions as with SARS-CoV-2 positive patients if resources allow.