Background

The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems and surgical procedures throughout the world. Coronaviruses are approximately 0.125 µm in size and are frequently carried in respiratory droplets [1]. The study demonstrates that COVID-19 can remain viable and infectious for hours in aerosolized materials and for days on surfaces [2].

Due to the high risk of viral aerolisation during procedures such as endoscopic sinus surgery, a plethora of cases have been postponed or cancelled [3].

However, it is not feasible to continue in this manner, as the duration of the pandemic is hard to predict. There may also be further global viral pandemics in future and thus the otorhinolaryngology community has to now adapt to the new normal. Mitigation strategies have included cold surgical instrumentation, negative pressure theatres and the use of the microdebrider [4].

The gold standard would be to create two self-contained surgical environments (one for the aneathetized patient and another for the theatre team) that can easily interact with each other and not allow cross contamination.

The use of Personal protective equipment (PPE) creates a barrier that protects the health care worker, however, it would be easier just to isolate the patient within a three-dimensional surgical field that would trap and remove aerosolized particles [5].

We propose the use of a simple clear isolation plastic sheet (160 × 200 cm) nasal tent to limit aerolization during these procedures. The cost of such a sheet varies from 4 to 8 US dollars and is quite readily available in most centres throughout the world.

Description of the technique

The patient is intubated with a cuffed endotracheal tube using PPE and the video laryngoscope. The patient is positioned, a throat pack inserted and draped. An operating tray is positioned at the cranial end of the bed 30 cm above the patients head (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Nasal tent draped over the patient

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Two openings are left for the surgeons hands and the scrub nurse. These are inserted under the tent which then secured to the operating table using adhesive tape along with the entire head and torso region. A separate low flow suction unit (such that it does not collapse the tent) is connected to the tent to steadily remove aerosolized particles within the tent and filter it through a separate suction unit to prevent cross-contamination with the theatre filtration system (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Diagram of the isolated patient in theatre-bubble theory

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Indications

Endoscopic sinonasal procedures done in the operating theatre.

Limitations

The tent is best suited for a single surgeon procedure. Once the procedure is started there is no passing of instruments under the tent, thus all instruments need to be selected and set out under the tent prior to surgery.

There is a learning curve to operating under the tent.

The theatre staff still need to use full PPE.

Currently may only be used in theatre.

Further studies are required to assess the efficacy and efficiency of the nasal tent.

How to avoid complications:

Theatre staff should be trained and should practice on how to safely drape and remove the plastic without compromising the integrity of the unit.

The use of diathermy and sharp instrumentation needs to be carefully monitored so as to not damage the nasal tent and compromise its barrier effect.

The surgery should be well planned with all members of the team.

All surgical instruments and apparatus should be secured into the tent prior to commencing the procedure. Once the surgeon has placed his hands under the tent, the adhesive tape creates a seal that prevents aerosolization into the operating theatre.

Key points

  • Pre-operative testing of surgical patients prior to endonasal surgery is advised.

  • Postpone surgery in COVID-19 positive patients if possible till they recovered.

  • All emergency cases and untested patients should be managed as positive until proven otherwise.

  • Aneasthesia and surgery should limit the degree of aerolization of particles.

  • Cost-Effective and simple barriers may be used to isolate the surgical field and prevent contamination of the theatre and infection of theatre staff.

  • The nasal tent is an easy to learn and cost-effective barrier that may be used to prevent viral dissemination in theatre.

  • Further by connecting suction to the tent will the viral particles may be safely extracted and filtered.

  • The Covid pandemic may be protracted and thus we will have to re-think the way we perform surgery to protect both the patient and the staff, in the current pandemic climate and beyond.