We wish to highlight the continued impact of personal protective equipment (PPE) (filtering facemask and powered respirators) as a barrier to communication when used during aerosol generating procedures such as pediatric airway surgery in the operating theatre during the endemic phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and present our multi-cadre staff survey to emphasize an ongoing potential patient safety issue inherent to current guidance.
We still cannot hear: Staff perceptions of personal protective equipment impact on speech and communication in the operating theater during pediatric airway surgery