Optimizing ENT Patients Management Guidelines During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

—An ENT specialist have a higher risk transmission of contracting COVID-19 due to procedures in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oral cavity, and oropharynx. This risk of transmission does not only affect the ENT specialist caring for the patient, but all staff in the room has potential for infection. Clinical and organizational guidelines is necessary for reducing contact. Patient, staff, and personal safety should been given the highest priority with strategy to provide high quality care. Aim of our study was to review the available recommendations published by Perhimpunan Dokter Spesialis Telinga Hidung Tenggorok Bedah Kepala dan Leher (PERHATI-KL) Indonesia on May 2020 for first edition and July 2020 for second edition and evaluate the underlying literature. Clinical and organizational guidelines for the management of a ENT department during COVID-19 pandemic set the appropriate standard for personal protective equipment, management for ENT patients with the new normal adaptation, and modify the assessment room. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ENT departments were forced to re-schedule their activity giving priority to urgent procedures and non-COVID cases. There is a lack of evidence-based literature providing. It is of paramount importance to face the emergency in the most effective and efficient manner, retrieving resources from non-essential settings and, at the same time, providing care to high priority non-COVID-19 related diseases.