Tracheostomy in the COVID-19 pandemic

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 Jul;277(7):2133-2135. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-05982-0. Epub 2020 Apr 22.

Abstract

Purpose: The role of tracheostomy in COVID-19-related ARDS is unknown. Nowadays, there is no clear indication regarding the timing of tracheostomy in these patients.

Methods: We describe our synergic experience between ENT and ICU Departments at University Hospital of Modena underlining some controversial aspects that would be worth discussing tracheostomies in these patients. During the last 2 weeks, we performed 28 tracheostomies on patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 infection who were treated with IMV.

Results: No differences between percutaneous and surgical tracheostomy in terms of timing and no case of team virus infection.

Conclusion: In our experience, tracheostomy should be performed only in selected patients within 7- and 14-day orotracheal intubation.

Keywords: COVID-19; Invasive mechanic ventilation; Tracheostomy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Intubation, Intratracheal*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / methods*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Patient Care Team
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / etiology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / therapy*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tracheostomy / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome