Tracheostomies are often utilized in critically ill patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation, to enhance respiratory function and facilitate ventilator weaning. Many coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients develop serious respiratory illness requiring ventilator management. In the early phase of this pandemic, the risk of disease spread lead to the development of conservative guidelines which advocated delaying tracheostomy at least two to three weeks from intubation and, preferably, with negative COVID-19 testing. The morbidly obese patient population, however, presents a unique scenario in which early tracheostomy may be beneficial. In this article, we discuss our institution’s current practices along with clinical outcomes with reference to intensive care literature and propose that early tracheotomy in COVID-19 patients should be considered on a case by case basis.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, tracheostomy, Endotracheal intubation, morbid obesity, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, pandemic, intensive care, mechanical ventilation, Respiratory function, Respiratory illness, intubation, risk, Clinical outcome, COVID-19 testing, management, Patient, disease spread, COVID-19 patient, Critically ill patient, ventilator, early phase, patient population, ENhance, develop, facilitate, unique, morbidly obese, 【제목키워드】 Practice, Sery,