Development of an institutional protocol for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill COVID-19...

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) may improve the outcome in critically ill COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation. However, the timing of performing tracheostomy may be controversial, and it is an aerosol-generating procedure with a potential risk of viral exposure to healthcare workers.

An operational protocol for performing PDT was made and subsequently followed in a designated COVID-19 ICU. Critically ill adult patients on mechanical ventilators who underwent PDT were included in this retrospective cohort study. Case files were retrospectively reviewed and patient characteristics, clinical outcome, and procedure-related details were noted.

Forty-one patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 49 (39-67) years, and 41.5% of patients were females. The median duration of mechanical ventilation before tracheostomy was 10 (8-16) days, and the median (IQR) PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio on the day of PDT was 155 (125-180) mm Hg. Further, 48.8% of patients had transient desaturation to SpO2 <90%, and 41.5% survived to ICU discharge. None of the health care providers involved in PDT developed any symptoms of COVID 19.

This descriptive study demonstrates the feasibility, implementation, and apparent safety of the PDT protocol developed at our institution.