Thoracic surgeon Dr. Robert J. Cerfolio shares an innovative technique to save patients with COVID-19.
Photo: °µÍøTV Langone Staff
Doctors worldwide are collaborating to save people with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), using innovative techniques and treatments.
Robert J. Cerfolio, MD, MBA, executive vice president and vice dean, chief of hospital operations at °µÍøTV Langone Health and director of clinical thoracic surgery, and colleagues at °µÍøTV Langone have developed a newer and perhaps safer approach to tracheostomy that allows for easier removal of secretions from the airway of patients with COVID-19.
The tracheostomy procedure has been advised against for treatment of patients with COVID-19 by many surgical and medical professional organizations because of the safety risk it poses to clinicians, but Dr. Cerfolio overrode the guidance and developed a new protocol to keep doctors and patients safe.
“We’ve done 63 of these and not a single doctor or nurse has gotten sick—not one. Sixty-two of the patients are still alive. We know we can do it safely, and we know we are helping patents.â€
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