Comparison of effectiveness of four facial masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic using indocyanine green and fluorescent angiography device: A plastic surgeon perspective

Background: The pandemic caused by the new type of coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019) has led to a serious increase in the demand for personal protective equipment, especially the mask. Depending on the increasing demand, many types of masks have been used in the pandemic process between health-care professionals and the community. Aims and Objectives: In our study, it was planned to evaluate N95, green, white surgical, and fabric woven masks with a fluorescent angiography (SPY®) device for protection. Materials and Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of the masks, models with and without mannequins are used. In both study models, indocyanine green was squeezed from the masks at a distance of 50 cm and the staining values of masks and mannequin faces were evaluated with fluorescent angiography (SPY®) device. Results: The most dyeing fabric was observed in the woven mask, while the least dyeing was observed in the N95 mask. In the model without mannequin, it was observed that the highest protection was in the N95 mask and the least protection was in the fabric woven mask. The most dyeing on the face was observed on the mannequin in which the woven mask was removed, and the least dyeing on the face was observed on the mannequin in which the N95 mask was removed. Green and white surgical masks were found to have similar protective rates. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, where the effectiveness of the mask was evaluated for the first time by using a fluorescent angiography (SPY®) device from a plastic surgery perspective, it was found that the N95 mask had the highest protection, the green and white surgical masks were similar, and the fabric woven mask had the least protection.