Safety and Prognosis in Percutaneous vs Surgical Tracheostomy in 27 Patients With COVID-19

• Published in: Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery Vol. 163; no. 3; pp. 462 - 464
• Main Authors: Riestra-Ayora, Juan, Yanes-Diaz, Joaquin, Penuelas, Oscar, Molina-Quiros, Cristina, Sanz-Fernández, Ricardo, Martin-Sanz, Eduardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-09-2020
• Subjects: Aged; airway management; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - therapy; COVID-19; Female; Humans; infectious disease; Intensive Care Units; Male; Organ Dysfunction Scores; Pandemics; Patient Safety; Pneumonia, Viral - therapy; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; quality improvement; SARS-CoV-2; tracheostomy; Tracheostomy - methods; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; infectious disease; tracheostomy; airway management; quality improvement
• ISSN: 0194-5998; 1097-6817
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599820931801

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, patients in intensive care units who are undergoing long-term intubation may require tracheostomy. There is controversy about indication and health care professionals’ safety regarding the conventional or percutaneous technique. We performed a prospective analysis of a series of 27 consecutive patients with COVID-19 comparing both tracheostomy techniques, safety, and prognosis clinical markers. The results show that the techniques are equally safe, without cases of infection in surgeons. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score before surgery and the progression in ventilation support during the first 72 hours after tracheostomy are optimal prognostic markers for these patients.