key: cord-1023574-wqxe5t2p
authors: Uchimura, Keigo; Yamasaki, Kei; Kawanami, Toshinori; Kanda, Hideki; Sakakibara, Hideki; Yatera, Kazuhiro
title: Novel device to prevent droplets in bronchoscopy during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic
date: 2020-11-04
journal: Thorac Cancer
DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.13729
sha: 1f213b3a82eff571084e1ef0230c0a9315c4d047
doc_id: 1023574
cord_uid: wqxe5t2p

[Image: see text] We modified the method of protection to reduce the exposure of health‐care workers (droplets) without restricting operability during bronchoscopy. Our method is inexpensive, simple, utilizes disposable materials and prevents interpatient infections. Its routine use during transoral bronchoscopy may be considered due to its simplicity.

ears, so the incision in the mask and mouthpiece may misalign as patients move or during FB removal/reinsertion. Transnasal FB is not popular in Japan because of the limited operability. In our method, the fixed NWF does not shift from the mouthpiece. The COVID-19 pandemic has depleted medical resources such as surgical masks. To examine the reduction of droplets, we compared the number of droplets with no equipment, NWF, and surgical mask using a simulated patient (Fig 1b-1i ). NWF and surgical masks significantly reduced splashes equally (Fig 1d-1i ). Our method is inexpensive, simple, utilizes disposable materials, and prevents interpatient infections. This method requires HCWs to use FPPE, but its routine use during transoral FB may be considered due to its simplicity. (e and f) Droplets (red circles) were slightly visible with the NWF (e) and surgical mask (f), but were clearly reduced with the NWF (e). (g) Extensive contamination (yellow circle) was confirmed with only the mouthpiece after spraying. The area around the model did not get wet from splashes after spraying with the NWF (h) and the surgical mask (i). 

Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China

The use of bronchoscopy during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Safe performance of diagnostic bronchoscopy/EBUS during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Summarizing societal guidelines regarding bronchoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Application of an anti-aerosol box for esophagogastroduodenoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic: Double up the protection

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP19K16966.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.