key: cord-0710798-j0pc27l9
authors: Piazza, Fabio
title: In Reference to How to Reduce the Risk of Adverse Events After COVID‐19 Nasopharyngeal Swab
date: 2021-07-24
journal: Laryngoscope
DOI: 10.1002/lary.29775
sha: 35ae49e1ad5541bc0f0b5c6b37d22a54950c4883
doc_id: 710798
cord_uid: j0pc27l9

nan

I read the paper "CSF Leak After COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swab: A Case Report" by Paquin et al. 1 and I think some recommendations can be added to optimize the procedural technique of nasopharyngeal swab to reduce the risk of adverse events: 1) to facilitate non-otolaryngologists, the floor of the nasal fossa (i.e., a line running from the nasal ala to the earlobe) should be parallel to the floor of the room; 2) slowly insert the swab down and posteriorly, following the direction of the floor of the nasal fossa; 3) the patient should be reminded not to move during collection of specimens; 4) ask the patient from which nostril she breathes best to understand which nostril is probably easier to pass through; 5) If the patient has a history of severe coagulopathy, ask her if she has had epistaxis and, if so, which side to obtain a nasopharyngeal swab specimen passing through the contralateral nasal cavity or, as an alternative, to obtain an oropharyngeal swab.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Paquin for highlighting the need for educational of proper nasopharyngeal swab technique. I believe combining their recommendations with the tips I suggested may be useful to the readers and reduce the risk of adverse events.

Head of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, ASST Carlo Poma Mantova, Mantua, Italy

CSF leak after COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab: a case report

ASST Carlo Poma Mantova, Strada Lago Paiolo 10

The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.