• Sena Turkdogan, Emily Kay-Rivest, Melanie Giroux, Chantal Piché, Kosar Khwaja, Marco Mascarella, Sarah Khalife, Sama Alohali, and Karen Kost.
• Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Mar 18: 1455613211001595.

BackgroundEndoscopic percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) is a safe technique that is performed frequently by otolaryngologists and intensivists. New challenges have been identified in order to maintain the safety of this procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. A novel approach, using a modified demistifier canopy, was developed during the first wave of the pandemic and implemented for 17 consecutive percutaneous tracheostomies in order to enhance procedural safety.MethodsA protocol was developed after performing a literature review of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients. A multidisciplinary tracheostomy team was established, including the departments of otolaryngology, critical care, and respiratory therapy. Simulation was performed prior to each PT, and postoperative debriefings were done.ResultsA protocol and technical description of PT using a modified demistifier canopy covering was written and video documented. Data were collected on 17 patients who underwent this procedure safely in our tertiary care hospital. There were no procedure-related complications, and no evidence of COVID-19 transmission to any member of the health care team during the study period.ConclusionAs patients continue to recover from COVID-19, their need for tracheostomy will increase. The technique described provides a safe, multidisciplinary method of performing PT in COVID-19 patients.

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