Browsing by Subject "Droplet"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Cadaveric Simulation of Endoscopic Endonasal Procedures: Analysis of Droplet Splatter Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic
    (SAGE Publications, 2020-05-19) Sharma, Dhruv; Rubel, Kolin E.; Ye, Michael J.; Shipchandler, Taha Z.; Wu, Arthur W.; Higgins, Thomas S.; Burgin, Sarah J.; Ting, Jonathan Y.; Illing, Elisa A.; Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine
    Objective The primary mode of viral transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is thought to occur through the spread of respiratory droplets. The objective of this study was to investigate droplet and splatter patterns resulting from common endoscopic endonasal procedures. Study Design Cadaver simulation series. Setting Dedicated surgical laboratory. Subjects and Methods After instilling cadaver head specimens (n = 2) with fluorescein solution, endoscopic endonasal procedures were systematically performed to evaluate the quantity, size, and distance of droplets and splatter following each experimental condition. Results There were no observable fluorescein droplets or splatter noted in the measured surgical field in any direction after nasal endoscopy, septoplasty with microdebrider-assisted turbinoplasty, cold-steel functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), and all experimental conditions using an ultrasonic aspirator. Limited droplet spread was noted with microdebrider FESS (2 droplets, <1 mm in size, within 10 cm), drilling of the sphenoid rostrum with a diamond burr (8, <1 mm, 12 cm), and drilling of the frontal beak with a cutting burr (5, <1 mm, 9 cm); however, the use of concurrent suction while drilling resulted in no droplets or splatter. The control condition of external activation of the drill resulted in gross contamination (11, 2 cm, 13 cm). Conclusion Our results indicate that there is very little droplet generation from routine rhinologic procedures. The droplet generation from drilling was mitigated with the use of concurrent suction. Extreme caution should be used to avoid activating powered instrumentation outside of the nasal cavity, which was found to cause droplet contamination.
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    Cadaveric Simulation of Otologic Procedures: An Analysis of Droplet Splatter Patterns During the COIVD-19 Pandemic
    (SAGE Publications, 2020-05-19) Sharma, Dhruv; Rubel, Kolin E.; Ye, Michael J.; Carroll, Aaron E.; Ting, Jonathan Y.; Illing, Elisa A.; Burgin, Sarah J.; Campiti, Vincent J.; Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine
    Objective. The otolaryngology community has significant concerns regarding the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through droplet contamination and viral aerosolization during head and neck examinations and procedures. The objective of this study was to investigate the droplet and splatter contamination from common otologic procedures. Study Design. Cadaver simulation series. Setting. Dedicated surgical laboratory. Methods. Two cadaver heads were prepped via bilateral middle cranial fossa approaches to the tegmen (n = 4). Fluorescein was instilled through a 4-mm burr hole drilled into the middle cranial fossa floor, and presence in the middle ear was confirmed via microscopic ear examination. Myringotomy with ventilation tube placement and mastoidectomy were performed, and the distribution and distance of resulting droplet splatter patterns were systematically evaluated. Results. There were no fluorescein droplets or splatter contamination observed in the measured surgical field in any direction after myringotomy and insertion of ventilation tube. Gross contamination from the surgical site to 6 ft was noted after complete mastoidectomy, though, when performed in standard fashion. Conclusion. Our results show that there is no droplet generation during myringotomy with ventilation tube placement in an operating room setting. Mastoidectomy, however, showed gross contamination 3 to 6 ft away in all directions measured. Additionally, there was significantly more droplet and splatter generation to the left of the surgeon when measured at 1 and 3 ft as compared with all other measured directions.
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    SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and the Risk of Aerosol Generating Procedures
    (American Thoracic Society, 2020-06-30) Pasnick, Susan; Carlos, W. Graham; Dela Cruz, Charles S; Gross, Jane E.; Garrison, Garth; Jamil, Shazia; Medicine, School of Medicine