A case series of interventional pulmonology in the era of coronavirus disease 2019

Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still ongoing, and respirology associations globally are updating and releasing guidelines to provide appropriate care for health care workers and patients. The virus can become airborne if aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) are performed. Interventional pulmonology procedures were performed on 63 patients within the period of March–May 2020. During this pandemic, personnel involved per procedure is limited, personal protective equipment level 3 is utilized in AGPs, and level 2 personal protective equipment is used in non-AGPs. The majority of patients were male (54%) and were aged 30–49 years (35%). Bronchoscopy was the most frequent procedure performed (62%). The most common pulmonary conditions in these patients were pneumonia, pleural effusion, and lung mass/consolidation (all 24%). There were seven (11%) patients diagnosed as having probable COVID-19. Interventional pulmonology procedures can still be performed in the era of COVID-19 pandemic.