Table 3.

Summary considerations

	Non‐COVID patient	COVID patient (known or suspected)
Triage
Acuity or indications	Postpone elective†	See footnote‡
Screening	Symptoms§, sick contacts§, pre‐procedure vitals	Not applicable
Procedure
Ideal setting	Negative pressure room	Negative pressure room
Staff	Limit personnel	Essential personnel only
Mask for patient	Slotted mask if transnasal or transoral approach without advanced airway	Yes (if not intubated)
PPE
Mask	N95 or FFP3 if significant community prevalence Consider daily re‐used N95 or FFP3 if low supply	PAPR (superior protection), N95 or FFP3
Eyes	Eye protection; full face shield if re‐using N95/FFP3	Full face shield
Other	Gown, gloves, cap	Gown, gloves, cap
Anaesthesia	Avoid atomized or nebulized lidocaine Sedation to minimize cough Consider paralysis to minimize cough in general anaesthesia	Avoid atomized or nebulized lidocaine Sedation to minimize cough Consider paralysis to minimize cough in general anaesthesia
Equipment	No consensus/recommendations	Disposable if available
Approach	Avoid rigid bronchoscopy¶	Avoid rigid bronchoscopy¶; minimize flexible scope in/out
Ventilation	Closed‐circuit ventilation if advanced airway; avoid jet	Closed‐circuit ventilation if advanced airway; avoid jet
Post‐procedure
Scope disinfection	No consensus/recommendations	Standard high level
Room disinfection	No consensus/recommendations	Consider air circulation time per local air controls Consider sterilizing surfaces

^† Specific indications considered elective by AABIP: mild airway stenosis, mucus clearance, suspected sarcoidosis without indication for immediate treatment, chronic interstitial lung disease, suspected Mycobacterium avium‐intracellulare, chronic cough, tracheobronchomalacia evaluation, bronchial thermoplasty and bronchoscopic lung volume reduction.

^‡ Possible indications: inconclusive non‐invasive COVID‐19 testing2, 3, 4, 5; concern for an alternate aetiology of respiratory disease which would change management2, 3, 4, 5 (especially in immunocompromised4); suspicion of superinfection4, 5; lobar or entire lung atelectasis concerning for mucus plugging,4 facilitate tracheostomy,4 life‐saving or emergent intervention (significant haemoptysis, severe central airway obstruction or stenosis, foreign body).2, 3, 4, 5

^§ Consider phone screening 1–2 days in advance.

^¶ Unless unavoidable in the clinical circumstance.

AABIP, American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology; COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 2019; PAPR, powered air‐purifying respirator; PPE, personal protective equipment.