Table 2 FNE volume by clinical setting and indication before, during and after the COVID-19 first peak

Monthly FNE levels

Before COVID-19 (n = 270)

During COVID-19 (n = 269)

After COVID-19 (n = 266)

 < 5

13 (5%)

133 (54%)

72 (27%)

 5-10

34 (13%)

67 (25%)

73 (27%)

 11-50

102 (38%)

55 (20%)

101 (38%)

 > 50

121 (45%)

3 (1%)

20 (8%)

FNE according to clinical setting

Before COVID-19

During COVID-19

After COVID-19

 Community clinic (n = 62)

61 (98%)

6 (10%)

15 (24%)

 Outpatient department (n = 249)

245 (98%)

170 (68%)

209 (84%)

 Inpatient ward (n = 200)

197 (99%)

121 (62%)

150 (75%)

 Emergency departments (n = 131)

128 (97%)

87 (66%)

96 (73%)

 Operating theatres (n = 83)

76 (92%)

47 (57%)

56 (67%)

 ICU (n = 156)

150 (96%)

88 (56%)

93 (60%)

FNE according to clinical indication

Before COVID-19

During COVID-19

After COVID-19

 Epistaxis (n = 154)

152 (99%)

48 (31%)

81 (53%)

 Airway assessment (n = 224)

222 (99%)

178 (79%)

196 (88%)

 Foreign body ingestion / inhalation (n = 162)

162 (100%)

99 (61%)

115 (71%)

 Cancer assessment (n = 205)

201 (98%)

157 (77%)

175 (85%)

 Swallow assessment (n = 225)

221 (98%)

78 (35%)

157 (70%)

 Voice assessment (n = 240)

237 (99%)

86 (36%)

160 (67%)

 Aid passage of NG tube (n = 123)

123 (100%)

38 (31%)

52 (43%)

 Aid insertion of tracheostomy tube (n = 80)

78 (98%)

36 (45%)

44 (55%)

 Aid tracheostomy care / decision-making (n = 161)

154 (96%)

80 (50%)

112 (70%)