Post-operative procedures
Before the epidemic of new coronavirus infection, once the surgical and
anesthesiological procedure was over, the patients were usually
transferred to the recovery room to continue the post-operative
assistance. To avoid overcrowding of multiple patients, during the
COVID-19 emergency phase, the single patient was monitored in the
post-operative period in a reserved room adjacent to the operating room,
under the supervision of the anesthesiology specialist and then was
transferred at the ENT inpatient clinic. During the post-operative stay,
all patients were assisted at ENT department using special precaution
for patients with temporary or permanent tracheostomy, considering the
heightened risk of viral transmission 10. On the basis
of the definitive histological examination, all oncological clinical
cases were newly discussed by the weekly virtual multidisciplinary tumor
board to define the eventual adjuvant therapy plan and the follow up
procedures.