Outcomes of Surgical Tracheostomy on Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients Admitted to a Private Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES:  The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an increase in the number of patients necessitating prolonged mechanical ventilation. Data on patients with COVID-19 undergoing tracheostomy indicating timing and outcomes are very limited. Our study illustrates--- outcomes for surgical tracheotomies performed on COVID-19 patients in Tanzania. METHODS:  This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. RESULTS:  Nineteen patients with COVID-19 underwent surgical tracheotomy between 16th March and 31st December 2021. All surgical tracheostomies were performed in the operating theatre. The average duration of intubation prior to tracheotomy and tracheostomy to ventilator liberation was 16 days and 27 days respectively. Only five patients were successfully liberated from the ventilator, decannulated, and discharged successfully. CONCLUSIONS:  This is the first and largest study describing tracheotomy outcomes in COVID-19 patients in Tanzania. Our results revealed a high mortality rate. Multicenter studies in the private and public sectors are needed in Tanzania to determine optimal timing, identification of patients, and risk factors predictive of improved outcomes.

Surgical correction of a percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) has become a routine procedure in intensive care, because of its multiple advantages over surgical tracheostomy (ST). CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 72-year-old patient with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, who received a PDT in the 6th tracheal ring with a lateral puncture of the trachea. This atypical placement of tracheostomy was due to a massive left-pronounced goiter, causing a tracheal shift to the right. To avoid dislocation of the tracheal cannula and prevent recurrent bleeding, surgical revision was decided. After left hemithyroidectomy, oral intubation was temporarily necessary, in order to remove the old tracheostomy. Then suturing of the left lateral tracheal defect and standard ST in the 2nd tracheal cartilage was performed. The patient was successfully weaned and decannulated and his swallowing function remained intact. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: In our case left hemithyroidectomy was necessary, in order to enable an optimal surgical tracheostomy in the 2nd tracheal cartilage. Because mechanical ventilation was carried out proximal to the large tracheal defect after PCT, a secondary closing approach was not an option. The endotracheal cuff was placed above the defect, in order to prevent acute or chronic intraluminal pressure trauma. Postoperative x-ray and bronchoscopy insured the sufficient sealing of the tracheal suturing. CONCLUSION: We describe an unusual placement of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy through a thyroid goiter and our approach to perform a correction surgical tracheostomy.

Aerosol-generating procedure; percutaneous versus surgical tracheostomy.

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare percutaneous tracheostomy (PCT) and surgical tracheostomy's aerosol and droplet scattering by using a particle counter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out with 35 patients between October 2020 and June 2021. All personal protective equipment was provided to protect healthcare workers. Measurements were made in the 5 s period before the tracheal incision and the 5 s period after the tracheal incision. RESULTS: The mean age of the 15 female and 20 male patients in this study was 68.88 ± 13.48 years old (range: 33-95 years old). Patients were intubated for an average of 22 days. Particle amounts were found to be significantly higher at 5 µm (p = 0.003) and 10 µm (p = 0.012) during PCT. In surgical tracheostomy, there was no significant increase in the number of particles. When the particle measurement values of both methods were compared with each other, there was a significantly more particle scattering in PCT than in surgical tracheotomy at 0.3 µm (p = 0.034), 5 µm (p = 0.001), and 10 µm (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: According to the data in our study, a surgical tracheotomy was not identified as an aerosol-generating procedure. Considering the risk of airborne transmission may increase due to viral mutations, we have shown that surgical tracheostomy may be more appropriate in patients who need a tracheostomy. Of course, the use of personal protective equipment during these processes is very important.

Acute epiglottitis after COVID-19 infection.

In patients with acute epiglottitis, the possibility of COVID-19 should be ruled out. Repeated nasofiberoscopy examinations or a tracheostomy, which may produce infectious aerosols, may be required.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of tracheostomy outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the entire COVID-19 Tracheostomy cohort was conducted to determine the cumulative incidence of complications, mortality, time to decannulation and ventilatory weaning. Outcomes of surgical versus percutaneous and outcomes relative to tracheostomy timing were also analysed. Studies reporting outcome data on patients with COVID-19 undergoing tracheostomy were identified and screened by 2 independent reviewers. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Outcome data were analysed using a random-effects model. From 1016 unique studies, 39 articles reporting outcomes for a total of 3929 patients were included for meta-analysis. Weighted mean follow-up time was 42.03±26 days post-tracheostomy. Meta-analysis showed that 61.2% of patients were weaned from mechanical ventilation [95%CI 52.6%-69.5%], 44.2% of patients were decannulated [95%CI 33.96%-54.67%], and cumulative mortality was found to be 19.23% [95%CI 15.2%-23.6%] across the entire tracheostomy cohort. The cumulative incidence of complications was 14.24% [95%CI 9.6%-19.6%], with bleeding accounting for 52% of all complications. No difference was found in incidence of mortality (RR1.96; p=0.34), decannulation (RR1.35, p=0.27), complications (RR0.75, p=0.09) and time to decannulation (SMD 0.46, p=0.68) between percutaneous and surgical tracheostomy. Moreover, no difference was found in mortality (RR1.57, p=0.43) between early and late tracheostomy, and timing of tracheostomy did not predict time to decannulation. Ten confirmed nosocomial staff infections were reported from 1398 tracheostomies. This study provides an overview of outcomes of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients, and contributes to our understanding of tracheostomy decisions in this patient cohort.

Safe surgical tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19: key clinical considerations.

Surgical tracheostomy is a high aerosol-generating procedure that is an essential aid to the recovery of patients who are critically ill with COVID-19 pneumonia. We present a single-centre case series of 16 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who underwent tracheostomy. We recommend that the patient selection criteria for achieving a favourable outcome should be based on fraction of inspired oxygen together with prone-position ventilation. As with any challenging situation, the importance of effective communication is paramount. The critical modifications in the surgical steps are clearly explained. Timely tracheostomy also leads to an earlier freeing up of ventilator space during a period of a rapidly escalating pandemic. The outcomes in terms of swallow and speech function were also assessed. The study has also helped to remove the anxiety around open a tracheostomy in patients who are COVID-19 positive.

Surgical Tracheostomy Outcomes in COVID-19-Positive Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this case series was to demonstrate that surgical tracheostomy can be undertaken safely in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and that it is an effective weaning tool. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Single academic teaching hospital in London. METHODS: All adult patients admitted to the adult intensive care unit (AICU), diagnosed with severe COVID-19 infection and requiring surgical tracheostomy between the March 10, 2020, and May 1, 2020, were included. Data collection focused upon patient demographics, AICU admission data, tracheostomy-specific data, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty patients with COVID-19 underwent surgical tracheostomy. The main indication for tracheostomy was to assist in respiratory weaning. Patients had undergone mechanical ventilation for a median of 16.5 days prior to surgical tracheostomy. Tracheostomy remained in situ for a median of 12.5 days. Sixty percent of patients were decannulated at the end of the data collection period. There were no serious immediate or short-term complications. Surgical tracheostomy facilitated significant reduction in intravenous sedation at 48 hours after tracheostomy formation. There was no confirmed COVID-19 infection or reported sickness in the operating surgical or anesthetic teams. CONCLUSION: Surgical tracheostomy has been demonstrated to be an effective weaning tool in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.

Open versus percutaneous tracheostomy in COVID-19: a multicentre comparison and recommendation for future resource utilisation.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic placed an unprecedented demand on critical care services for the provision of mechanical ventilation. Tracheostomy formation facilitates liberation from mechanical ventilation with advantages for both the patient and wider critical care resource, and can be performed using both percutaneous dilatational and surgical techniques. We compared outcomes in those patients undergoing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy to those undergoing surgical tracheostomy and make recommendations for provision of tracheostomy services in any future surge. METHODS: Multicentre multidisciplinary retrospective observational cohort study including 201 patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis admitted to an ICU in one of five NHS Trusts within the South London Adult Critical Care Network who required mechanical ventilation and subsequent tracheostomy. RESULTS: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy was performed in 124 (62%) of patients, and surgical tracheostomy in 77 (38%) of patients. There was no difference between percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy and surgical tracheostomy in either the rate of peri-operative complications (16.9 vs. 22.1%, p = 0.46), median [IQR(range)] time to decannulation [19.0 (15.0-30.2 (5.0-65.0)] vs. 21.0 [15.5-36.0 (5.0-70.0) days] or mortality (13.7% vs. 15.6%, p = 0.84). Of the 172 patients that were alive at follow-up, two remained ventilated and 163 were decannulated. CONCLUSION: In patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis that require tracheostomy to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation, there was no difference in outcomes between those patients that had percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy compared with those that had surgical tracheostomy. Planning for future surges in COVID-19-related critical care demands should utilise all available resource and expertise.

Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Wake-Up Call for Neurosurgeons to Learn Percutaneous Tracheostomy.

Tracheostomy is a commonly performed operation in neurosurgical patients. It is an aerosol generating procedure and is considered a high-risk operation in times of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Though percutaneous tracheostomy has been around for some time, many neurosurgeons still perform open surgical tracheostomy as they have been trained in doing so and are well versed with the procedure. However, this pandemic is a wake-up call for them to learn a new skill that is simple, quick, and has several advantages over the traditional method.

Use of Tracheostomy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: American College of Chest Physicians/American Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology/Association of Interventional Pulmonology Program Directors Expert Panel Report.

BACKGROUND: The role of tracheostomy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains unknown. The goal of this consensus statement is to examine the current evidence for performing tracheostomy in patients with respiratory failure from COVID-19 and offer guidance to physicians on the preparation, timing, and technique while minimizing the risk of infection to health care workers (HCWs). METHODS: A panel including intensivists and interventional pulmonologists from three professional societies representing 13 institutions with experience in managing patients with COVID-19 across a spectrum of health-care environments developed key clinical questions addressing specific topics on tracheostomy in COVID-19. A systematic review of the literature and an established modified Delphi consensus methodology were applied to provide a reliable evidence-based consensus statement and expert panel report. RESULTS: Eight key questions, corresponding to 14 decision points, were rated by the panel. The results were aggregated, resulting in eight main recommendations and five additional remarks intended to guide health-care providers in the decision-making process pertinent to tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19-related respiratory failure. CONCLUSION: This panel suggests performing tracheostomy in patients expected to require prolonged mechanical ventilation. A specific timing of tracheostomy cannot be recommended. There is no evidence for routine repeat reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing in patients with confirmed COVID-19 evaluated for tracheostomy. To reduce the risk of infection in HCWs, we recommend performing the procedure using techniques that minimize aerosolization while wearing enhanced personal protective equipment. The recommendations presented in this statement may change as more experience is gained during this pandemic.

Surgical Tracheostomies in COVID-19 Patients: Indications, Technique, and Results in a Second-Level Spanish Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this work is to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in a second-level hospital in Madrid, Spain, focusing in those who underwent surgical tracheostomy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The surgical technique and associated complications are also detailed. STUDY DESIGN: Observational and historical cohort. SETTING: Single center. METHODS: Eighty-three intubated COVID-19 patients were analyzed. Thirty bedside surgical tracheostomies had been performed following our safety protocol. RESULTS: Data from 83 patients admitted to the ICU in Infanta Leonor University Hospital were collected; 74.7% were male. The average age was 59.7 years. The main comorbidities found were hypertension in 51.8%, diabetes mellitus in 25.3%, asthma in 7.2%, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 3.6%. A surgical tracheostomy was carried out in 36.1% of patients who needed a prolonged intubation. The most frequent complication of the surgical procedure, bleeding, occurred in 30%, but the majority were mild and ceased with compression only. The most relevant complication was local infection, which occurred in 26.7% of patients. There were statistically significant differences in the time from the beginning of mechanical ventilation until weaning between tracheostomized and nontracheostomized patients. The mortality rate of patients who underwent tracheostomy was 56.7%. Despite severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 being highly contagious and tracheostomy being considered a high-risk procedure, our rate of infected ear, nose, and throat specialists was only 11.8%. CONCLUSION: In our experience, bedside surgical tracheostomy is a safe procedure in COVID-19 patients when safety protocols are followed.