Outcomes After Percutaneous Tracheostomy in Patients with COVID-19: A Single-Center Series of 377 Cases

Introduction The COVID 19 pandemic was highlighted by a rise in hospital admissions secondary to respiratory decompensation. This was accompanied by an increase in ICU admissions, endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. As a consequence, tracheostomies became essential in preventing complications of prolonged intubation and to facilitate weaning from sedation and mechanical ventilation. With the lack of international consensus on tracheostomy technique and optimal timing, we present our experience with 377 percutaneous tracheostomies performed on critically ill COVID 19 patients. Objective To report the outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19 who underwent percutaneous tracheostomy during a period of 24 months. Methods A retrospective single-center electronic chart review was performed on all ICU patients who underwent percutaneous tracheostomy after respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 between March 2020 to March 2022. Results A total of 377 percutaneous tracheostomies were performed. The mean duration between intubation and percutaneous tracheostomy was 17.4 days (3-61). The study included 222 males (59%) and 155 females (41%). The mean age of patients was 56.2 years (17-94), with a mean BMI was 31.3 (14-68). The commonest comorbidities among patients were diabetes mellitus (50%) and hypertension (48%). Complications were encountered in 85 cases (23%), with the commonest overall complication being minor bleeding. 203 patients (54%) were weaned from sedation. The mean duration between tracheostomy and weaning from sedation was 7.5 days (1 – 47 days). 156 patients (41%) were weaned from MV. The mean duration between tracheostomy and weaning from MV was 12.9 days (1 – 58 days). There was a total of 236 (63%) deaths reported during the period of this study. No deaths were attributable to the surgical procedure. Conclusion Percutaneous tracheostomy can be safely performed in patients with COVID-19. With lack of conclusive objective data regarding the optimal timing for tracheostomy, we recommend that tracheostomy be performed as soon as possible after the 7th day endotracheal intubation. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ethics committee/IRB 2020/1404 of the standing committee for coordination of health and medical research in the ministry of health in Kuwait gave ethical approval for this work. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present work are contained in the manuscript