Open tracheostomy for COVID-19–positive patients: A method to minimize aerosolization and reduce risk of exposure

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 virus is highly contagious, and thus there is a potential of infecting operating staff when operating on these patients. This case series describes a method of performing open tracheostomy for COVID-19 patients while minimizing potential aerosolization of the virus using typically available equipment and supplies. METHODS This is a case series of 18 patients who were COVID-19–positive and underwent open tracheostomy in...