Tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients and its effect on laboratory parameters: a retrospective case series

Abstract

<p><strong>Aim <br /></strong>To evaluate characteristics of COVID-19 tracheostomy and its effect on laboratory parameters.<br /><strong>Methods</strong> <br />Demographic parameters, duration indicators, and laboratory parameters before and after tracheostomy were analysed in<br />a series of 17 patients with COVID-19 patients.<br /><strong>Results</strong> <br />Of the 17 patients, four were males and 13 females with a mean age of 59 years. The average length of total hospitalization was 12 days, the length of stay in intensive care was 10 days, the length of endotracheal intubation was 9 days; tracheostomy was mostly performed on the seventh day. There was a significant correlation between comorbidities and outcomes; however, laboratory parameters did not show statistical significance. <br /><strong>Conclusion</strong> <br />Open surgical tracheostomy is recommended in all COVID-19 critically ill patients within 1 or 2 weeks after endotracheal intubation; it can be performed in terms of renal laboratory parameters, lactate and D-dimer. These patients had a lower<br />possibility of weaning from mechanical ventilation.</p>