“Can anesthesiologists trach coronavirus patients?”

If patient is positive and surgery is not an emergency, the procedure will be held until cleared of infection.

In answer to your question, anesthesiologists have training in performing emergency tracheostomies as a part of their training, as it is the ultimate treatment for patients who are unable to breathe or receive assistance with ventilation due to “lost airway”. However, it would generally be preferable for a surgeon who does tracheostomies frequently to do this procedure for a coronavirus patient who is to have a long-term tracheostomy. Essentially, you are then having an expert whose skills are current rather than someone who has learned a procedure for emergencies, but may never have done one.

Peter Lunt, MD

Yes