BLA Tracheostomy Guideline - Updated Nov 2020
10 November, 2020 - 13:28
Message from the BLA President:
I hope you are coping with the onset of the second wave of Covid-19 that is now beginning to affect us all. Earlier in the year, the BLA had written a tracheostomy guideline to assist in decision making and performance of tracheostomy procedures during the pandemic. With experience gained during the first wave, the BLA Council felt the guideline should be updated, and the new document is attached for your information.
The main changes are:
The more widespread use of non-invasive ventilation (such as CPAP or BiPAP) has been shown to reduce the need for endotracheal intubation and subsequent tracheostomy
If intubation does become necessary, then use of smaller ET tubes ( perhaps maximum 8mm for males and 6mm for females), and early consideration of tracheostomy (from day 7-10) appear to reduce the incidemce of airway complications.
I hope the new document is helpful.
Mark Watson - BLA President (2019 - 2021)
pdf documents:
