Prevention of COVID-19 aerosol exposure during orotracheal intubation

Background and objectives: during orotracheal intubation (OTI), it occurs the exposure to COVID-19 aerosols and consequent contamination of the professionals involved, observing the need to apply preventive measures. The objective is to know, in the scientific literature, which are the main preventive measures for health professionals to aerosols generated during OTI of patients suspected or confirmed for COVID-19. Contents: this is an integrative review, with search in the LILACS, SciELO, BDENF, MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane Wiley databases. Primary articles, with full text in Portuguese, Spanish and English, which contemplated the research objective, were selected. Of the 335 articles found, 22 were selected according to the inclusion criteria. In 18 (82%) of articles, they highlighted the use of barrier methods when performing the intubation procedure, such as acrylic box and plastic tarpaulin. In other studies (3; 14%), it was observed the need to include qualified intubation teams in hospital institutions to reduce the contamination of professionals, in addition to the application of checklists that guide the procedure. A single article brought the use of an orthopedic protective cover adapted to protect the intubator. Conclusion: the measures are defended to reduce exposure to aerosols and allow the safety of health professionals. The use of an intubation box must be used with caution, weighing the risks and benefits against the possibility of aerosolization during its use in orotracheal intubation.