[Survival and decannulation at 90 days after percutaneous dilation tracheostomy in the COVID-19 intensive care unit]

Tracheostomy (TCT) is the most frequently performed surgical procedure among COVID-19 patients. In Argentina, survival and decannulation rates are unknown. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate mortality and decannulation rates after 90 days of the percutaneous TCT performance. Secondarily, airway injury rate, days on invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and days of hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) were also evaluated.

This observational analytic prospective cohort study included patients over 18 years old with SARS-CoV-2 who were admitted into the ICU requiring IMV and percutaneous TCT in the period covering from 1 February 2021 to 31 July 2021.

the mortality rate in 95 patients was 66.3%. Among the survivors, 67% were decannulated. The youngest patients were the ones who survived [mean 50.6 (SD 10.2) years versus mean 58.9 (SD 13.4) years; p = 0.001] and presented lower Charlson index scores [median 1 (IQR 0-2) versus 2 (1-3) points; p = 0.007]. Patients who were tracheostomized ten days before the start of IMV were fewer days on IMV and had a shorter stay in the ICU, p < 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively. Charlson Index was identified as an independent factor of mortality for both decannulation mortality at 90 days.

In our cohort of patients, those who were younger and presented less c omorbidities benefited from TCT. Charlson Index could be used as a prognostic marker among this patient population.