COVID-19 in the Clinic: Trial of an Aerosol Containment Mask for Endoscopic Clinic Procedures

Objective: Create an aerosol containment mask (ACM) for common otolaryngologic endoscopic procedures which also provides nanoparticle-level protection to patients.

Study design: Prospective feasibility study.

Setting: In-person testing with a novel ACM.

Methods: The mask was designed in Solidworks and 3-dimensional printed. Measurements were made on 100 consecutive clinic patients who underwent medically necessarily endoscopy, 50 rigid nasal and 50 flexible, by 9 surgeons.

Results: Of the 50 patients who underwent rigid nasal endoscopy with the ACM, 0 of 25 patients with the suction off and 0 of 25 patients with the suction on had evidence of leakage of 0.3 μm particles. Of the 50 patients who underwent flexible endoscopy with the ACM, 0 of 25 patients with the suction off and 0 of 25 patients with the suction on had evidence of leakage of 0.3 μm particles. In terms of comfort, 73% of patients found the ACM somewhat or very comfortable without suction, compared to 86% with the suction on. Surgeons were able to visualize all necessary anatomic areas in 98% of procedures. In 97% of procedures, the masks were able to be placed easily.

Conclusion: ACM can accommodate rigid nasal and flexible endoscopes and may prevent leakage of patient-generated aerosols, thus avoiding contamination of the room and protecting health care workers from airborne contagions.

Level of evidence: The level of evidence is 2.