Introduction:

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in early 2020 changed the practices of health professionals in order to mitigate the risks of contamination of health care frontline workers, mainly activities related to the management of the airways of patients with Covid-19.

Objective:

to identify the practices necessary to ensure the safety of health professionals in managing the airway of patients suspected or diagnosed with Covid-19.

Materials and methods:

an integrative review carried out in ten relevant databases in the health area, with the sample consisting of 17 surveys. The practices identified were listed according to the four procedures punctuated by the literature: endotracheal intubation, extubation, bronchoscopy and tracheostomy.

Results:

the main recommendations mentioned were: endotracheal intubation: performed by an experienced, trained, minimal team and professionals from risk groups for covid-19 should not be part of this team; extubation: do not use a high flow nasal catheter after the procedure; bronchoscopy: perform in an isolated room with negative pressure; tracheostomy: may be considered early, but the risk-benefit must be assessed.

Conclusion:

the practices identified may direct the management of airways and guide the construction of assistive, educational or managerial technologies.

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