Magasich-Airola NP et al. Novel technique for safe tracheostomy during COVID-19 pandemic using Evone® flow-controlled ventilation system. Int J Clin Pract. 2020 Nov 27;e13863. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.13863. Online ahead of print.

In this letter the authors describe the use of Evone in combination with Tritube to allow safe surgical tracheostomy with minimized aerosol generation while providing continuous ventilation. In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, approaches to reduce the risk of virus spreading are urgently needed. While conventional tracheostomy is a highly aerosol generating procedure, introduction of Tritube and FCV ventilation using Evone uniquely allows the placement of a transtracheal cannula in a sealed airway. Thereby, virus spread by air droplets is contained, and adequate ventilation of potentially severely hypoxic patients without apneic periods is ensured. The small outer diameter of Tritube additionally provides a good working space for the surgeon.