Outcome of Acute Hypoxaemic Respiratory Failure. Insights from the Lung Safe Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 2003317
Author(s):  
Tài Pham ◽  
Antonio Pesenti ◽  
Giacomo Bellani ◽  
Gordon Rubenfeld ◽  
Eddy Fan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Pulmonary Involvement ◽  
Positive End Expiratory Pressure ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Current Incidence

BackgroundThe current incidence and outcome of patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit are unknown, especially for patients not meeting criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).MethodsAn international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of patients presenting with hypoxemia early in the course of mechanical ventilation, conducted during four consecutive weeks in the winter of 2014 in 459 ICUs from 50 countries (LUNG SAFE). Patients were enrolled with PaO2/FiO2 ≤300 mmHg, new pulmonary infiltrates and need for mechanical ventilation with a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of at least 5 cm H2O. ICU prevalence, causes of hypoxemia, hospital survival, factors associated with hospital mortality were measured. Patients with unilateral versus bilateral opacities were compared.Findings12 906 critically ill patients received mechanical ventilation and 34.9% with hypoxaemia and new infiltrates were enrolled, separated into ARDS (69.0%), unilateral infiltrate (22.7%) and congestive heart failure (8.2%, CHF). The global hospital mortality was 38.6%. CHF patients had a mortality comparable to ARDS (44.1%versus 40.4%). Patients with unilateral-infiltrate had lower unadjusted mortality but similar adjusted mortality than ARDS. The number of quadrants on chest imaging was associated with an increased risk of death. There was no difference in mortality comparing patients with unilateral-infiltrate and ARDS with only 2 quadrants involved.InterpretationMore than one third of the patients receiving mechanical ventilation have hypoxaemia and new infiltrates with an hospital mortality of 38.6%. Survival is dependent on the degree of pulmonary involvement whether or not ARDS criteria are reached.

scholarly journals Higher Versus Lower Positive End-Expiratory Pressure in Patients Without Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommaso Pettenuzzo ◽  
Annalisa Boscolo ◽  
Alessandro De Cassai ◽  
Nicolò Sella ◽  
Francesco Zarantonello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Positive End Expiratory Pressure ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Duration Of Ventilation

Abstract Background: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the association of higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), as opposed to lower PEEP, with hospital mortality in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation for reasons other than acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: We performed an electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Web of Science from inception until December 18, 2020 with no language restrictions. In addition, a research-in-progress database and grey literature were searched. Results: We identified 22 RCTs (2225 patients) comparing higher PEEP (1007 patients) with lower PEEP (991 patients). No statistically significant association between higher PEEP and hospital mortality was observed (risk ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.89-1.16; I2 = 0%, p = 0.62; low certainty of evidence). Among secondary outcomes, higher PEEP was associated with better oxygenation, higher respiratory system compliance, and lower risk of hypoxemia and ARDS occurrence. Furthermore, barotrauma, hypotension, duration of ventilation, lengths of stay, and ICU mortality were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: In our meta-analysis of RCTs, higher PEEP, compared with lower PEEP, was not associated with mortality or duration of ventilation in patients without ARDS receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, despite being associated with improved oxygenation and lower occurrence of ARDS.

scholarly journals Association between lung compliance phenotypes and mortality in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 686-694
Author(s):  
Ser Hon Puah ◽  
Matthew Edward Cove ◽  
Jason Phua ◽  
Amit Kansal ◽  
Jonathen Venkatachalam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Lung Compliance ◽  
High Compliance ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Risk Of Death

ABSTRACT Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 is associated with a high mortality rate, though outcomes of the different lung compliance phenotypes are unclear. We aimed to measure lung compliance and examine other factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients with ARDS. Methods: Adult patients with COVID-19 ARDS who required invasive mechanical ventilation at 8 hospitals in Singapore were prospectively enrolled. Factors associated with both mortality and differences between high (<40mL/cm H2O) and low (<40mL/cm H2O) compliance were analysed. Results: A total of 102 patients with COVID-19 who required invasive mechanical ventilation were analysed; 15 (14.7%) did not survive. Non-survivors were older (median 70 years, interquartile range [IQR] 67–75 versus median 61 years, IQR 52–66; P<0.01), and required a longer duration of ventilation (26 days, IQR 12–27 vs 8 days, IQR 5–15; P<0.01) and intensive care unit support (26 days, IQR 11–30 vs 11.5 days, IQR 7–17.3; P=0.01), with a higher incidence of acute kidney injury (15 patients [100%] vs 40 patients [46%]; P<0.01). There were 67 patients who had lung compliance data; 24 (35.8%) were classified as having high compliance and 43 (64.2%) as having low compliance. Mortality was higher in patients with high compliance (33.3% vs 11.6%; P=0.03), and was associated with a drop in compliance at day 7 (-9.3mL/cm H2O (IQR -4.5 to -15.4) vs 0.2mL/cm H2O (4.7 to -5.2) P=0.04). Conclusion: COVID-19 ARDS patients with higher compliance on the day of intubation and a longitudinal decrease over time had a higher risk of death. Keywords: ARDS, COVID-19-associated respiratory failure, high-flow nasal cannula therapy, HFNC, post-intubation, ventilation strategies

scholarly journals Higher versus lower positive end-expiratory pressure in patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Critical Care ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommaso Pettenuzzo ◽  
Annalisa Boscolo ◽  
Alessandro De Cassai ◽  
Nicolò Sella ◽  
Francesco Zarantonello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Positive End Expiratory Pressure ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the association of higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), as opposed to lower PEEP, with hospital mortality in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation for reasons other than acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods We performed an electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Web of Science from inception until June 16, 2021 with no language restrictions. In addition, a research-in-progress database and grey literature were searched. Results We identified 22 RCTs (2225 patients) comparing higher PEEP (1007 patients) with lower PEEP (991 patients). No statistically significant association between higher PEEP and hospital mortality was observed (risk ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.89–1.16; I2 = 0%, p = 0.62; low certainty of evidence). Among secondary outcomes, higher PEEP was associated with better oxygenation, higher respiratory system compliance, and lower risk of hypoxemia and ARDS occurrence. Furthermore, barotrauma, hypotension, duration of ventilation, lengths of stay, and ICU mortality were similar between the two groups. Conclusions In our meta-analysis of RCTs, higher PEEP, compared with lower PEEP, was not associated with mortality in patients without ARDS receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. Further large high-quality RCTs are required to confirm these findings.

scholarly journals Utility of SpO2/FiO2 ratio for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure with bilateral opacities in the ICU

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245927
Author(s):  
Yosuke Fukuda ◽  
Akihiko Tanaka ◽  
Tetsuya Homma ◽  
Keisuke Kaneko ◽  
Tomoki Uno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Prognostic Markers ◽  
Apache Ii ◽  
Icu Mortality ◽  
Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure ◽  
Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Saps Ii

Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) with bilateral opacities causes fatalities in the intensive care unit (ICU). It is often difficult to identify the causes of AHRF at the time of admission. The SpO2 to FiO2 (S/F) ratio has been recently used as a non-invasive and alternative marker of the PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio in acute respiratory failure. This retrospective cohort study was conducted from October 2010 to March 2019 at the Showa University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. We enrolled 94 AHRF patients who had bilateral opacities and received mechanical ventilation in ICU to investigate their prognostic markers including S/F ratio. Significant differences were observed for APACHE II, S/F ratio, PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio, and ventilator−free-days at day 28 for ICU mortality, and for age, S/F ratio, P/F ratio, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ventilator−free days at day 28 for hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the S/F ratio was significantly and independently associated with the risk of death during in ICU (p = 0.003) and hospitalization (p = 0.002). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) based on the S/F ratio were significantly greater than those based on simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) II and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) for ICU mortality (0.785 in S/F ratio vs. 0.575 in SAPS II, p = 0.012; 0.785 in S/F ratio vs 0.594 in SOFA, p = 0.021) and for hospital mortality (0.701 in S/F ratio vs. 0.502 in SAPS II, p = 0.012; 0.701 in S/F ratio vs. 0.503 in SOFA, p = 0.005). In the subanalysis for bacterial pneumonia and interstitial lung disease groups, the AUC based on the S/F ratio was the greatest among all prognostic markers, including APACHE II, SAPS II, and SOFA. The S/F ratio may be a useful and noninvasive predictive prognostic marker for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure with bilateral opacities in the ICU.

scholarly journals Cross-sectional observational study of epidemiology of COVID-19 and clinical outcomes of hospitalised patients in North West London during March and April 2020

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e044384
Author(s):  
Guduru Gopal Rao ◽  
Alexander Allen ◽  
Padmasayee Papineni ◽  
Liyang Wang ◽  
Charlotte Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
North West ◽  
Icu Admission ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Increased Risk

ObjectiveThe aim of this paper is to describe evolution, epidemiology and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in subjects tested at or admitted to hospitals in North West London.DesignObservational cohort study.SettingLondon North West Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH).ParticipantsPatients tested and/or admitted for COVID-19 at LNWH during March and April 2020Main outcome measuresDescriptive and analytical epidemiology of demographic and clinical outcomes (intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation and mortality) of those who tested positive for COVID-19.ResultsThe outbreak began in the first week of March 2020 and reached a peak by the end of March and first week of April. In the study period, 6183 tests were performed in on 4981 people. Of the 2086 laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1901 were admitted to hospital. Older age group, men and those of black or Asian minority ethnic (BAME) group were predominantly affected (p<0.05). These groups also had more severe infection resulting in ICU admission and need for mechanical ventilation (p<0.05). However, in a multivariate analysis, only increasing age was independently associated with increased risk of death (p<0.05). Mortality rate was 26.9% in hospitalised patients.ConclusionThe findings confirm that men, BAME and older population were most commonly and severely affected groups. Only older age was independently associated with mortality.

scholarly journals POS1260 FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE SARS-COV-2 INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASES IN MADRID: RESULTS FROM REUMA-COVID SORCOM REGISTRY

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 914-914
Author(s):  
A. Boteanu ◽  
A. García Fernández ◽  
N. De la Torre ◽  
M. Pavia Pascual ◽  
O. Sanchez Pernaute ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Connective Tissue Diseases ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Pulmonary Involvement ◽  
Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Cardiovascular Comorbidities ◽  
Male Sex

Background:Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be at risk to develop a severe course of COVID-19 due to the immune dysregulation or the influence of immunomodulating drugs on the course of the infection. For a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infections in patients with IRD and due to the high incidence of COVID-19 in Madrid from the beginning of this pandemic infection in Spain, the Society of Rheumatology from Madrid (SORCOM) established a registry (REUMA-COVID SORCOM) shortly after the beginning of the pandemic in Spain.Objectives:To determine factors associated with severity of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases in MadridMethods:The REUMA-COVID SORCOM registry is a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study conducted in Madrid, a SORCOM initiative. All rheumatology departments from Madrid were invited to participate. The study includes patients with IRD presenting with a confirmed or highly suspected diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and November 10, 2020. We consider severe infection death or need of hospitalization. Inclusion criteria was having an IRD and at least 1 of the following 4 criteria: (1) a biologically confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis based on a positive result of a SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on a nasopharyngeal swab; (2) Detection of IgM or IgG anti SARS-CoV2 in a symptomatic or asymptomatic patients (3)typical thoracic computed tomography (CT) abnormalities (ground-glass opacities) in epidemic areas; (4) COVID19–typical symptoms in an epidemic zone of COVID-19.Results:As of November 10, 2020, 417 patients with IRD were included in the REUMA-COVID SORCOM registry. 5 patients were discharged for incomplete data. Of 412 patients (mean age 57 years, 87.4% Caucasian race, 66.3% female) 174 need hospitalization (42.2%) and 33 patients died (18.4% mortality in hospitalized patients). 82.3% had comorbidities. 234 (56.8%) patients were classified as inflammatory arthropathy, 133 (32.3%) had connective tissue diseases (CTD). 41.1% of the patients had a large history of IRD (> 10 years). 10.4% of patients had previously pulmonary involvement. The study includes 143 patients taking Methotrexate, 89 patients taking anti-TNFα therapy and 27 Rituximab. In the univariant analysis, no differences were seen in the severity of COVID-19 infection in patients taking methotrexate. 63% of the all patients taking Rituximab included in the registry need hospitalization and 22% of them died. Hypertension, COPD or cardiovascular disease was associated with hospitalization.Independent factors associated with COVID-19 hospitalization in the multivariate analysis was: age (>62 years), male sex, IMC >30, previous cardiovascular comorbidities and the IRD disease duration (> 10 years). Independent factors associated with COVID-19 related death was: age (> 62 years), having a CTD diagnose, pulmonary involvement before infection and chronical GC treatment.Conclusion:Patients with IRD represent a population of particular interest in the pandemic context because the baseline immunological alteration and the treated with immunosuppressants agents they receive, comorbidities and the well-known risk of severe infection. Older age, male sex, cardiovascular comorbidities were factors associated with high risk of hospitalization in IRD patients. CTD diseases, previously pulmonary involvement and chronical GC treatment with more than 10mg/day were associated with high risk of death. Neither anti TNF-α treatment nor Methotrexate were risk factor for hospitalization or death COVID-19 related in IRD patients.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Mortality and high risk of major adverse events in patients with COVID-19 and history of cardiovascular disease

Open Heart ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e001526
Author(s):  
Elena Tessitore ◽  
David Carballo ◽  
Antoine Poncet ◽  
Nils Perrin ◽  
Cedric Follonier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Male Gender ◽  
Hospital Death ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Adverse Cardiovascular Event ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of

ObjectiveHistory of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) may influence the prognosis of patients hospitalised for COVID-19. We investigated whether patients with previous CVD have increased risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) when hospitalised for COVID-19.MethodsWe included 839 patients with COVID-19 hospitalised at the University Hospitals of Geneva. Demographic characteristics, medical history, laboratory values, ECG at admission and medications at admission were collected based on electronic medical records. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality or MACE.ResultsMedian age was 67 years, 453 (54%) were males and 277 (33%) had history of CVD. In total, 152 (18%) died and 687 (82%) were discharged, including 72 (9%) who survived a MACE. Patients with previous CVD were more at risk of composite outcomes 141/277 (51%) compared with those without CVD 83/562 (15%) (OR=6.0 (95% CI 4.3 to 8.4), p<0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that history of CVD remained an independent risk factor of in-hospital death or MACE (OR=2.4; (95% CI 1.6 to 3.5)), as did age (OR for a 10-year increase=2.2 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.6)), male gender (OR=1.6 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.3)), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR=2.1 (95% CI 1.0 to 4.2)) and lung infiltration associated with COVID-19 at CT scan (OR=1.9 (95% CI 1.2 to 3.0)). History of CVD (OR=2.9 (95% CI 1.7 to 5)), age (OR=2.5 (95% CI 2.0 to 3.2)), male gender (OR=1.6 (95% CI 0.98 to 2.6)) and elevated C reactive protein (CRP) levels on admission (OR for a 10 mg/L increase=1.1 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.2)) were independent risk factors for mortality.ConclusionHistory of CVD is associated with higher in-hospital mortality and MACE in hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Other factors associated with higher in-hospital mortality are older age, male sex and elevated CRP on admission.

Age differences in mortality in patients undergoing surgery for infective endocarditis

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Ostergaard ◽  
M.H Smerup ◽  
K Iversen ◽  
A.D Jensen ◽  
A Dahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infective Endocarditis ◽  
Aortic Valve ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Prosthetic Heart Valve ◽  
Valve Surgery ◽  
Aortic Valve Surgery ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with high mortality. Surgery may improve survival, but the intercept between benefit and harm is hard to balance and may be closely related to age. Purpose To examine the in-hospital and 90-day mortality in patients undergoing surgery for IE and to identify differences between age groups and type of valvular intervention. Methods By crosslinking nationwide Danish registries we identified patients with first-time IE undergoing surgical treatment in the period from 2000 to 2017. The study population was grouped in patients &lt;60 years, 60–75 years, and ≥75 years of age. High-risk subgroups by age and surgical valve intervention (mitral vs aortic vs mitral+aortic) during IE admission were examined. Kaplan Meier estimates was used to identify 90-day mortality by age groups and multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to examine factors associated with 90-day mortality. Results We included 1,767 patients with IE undergoing surgery, 735 patients &lt;60 years (24.1% female), 766 patients 60–75 years (25.8% female), and 266 patients &gt;75 years (36.1% female). The proportion of patients with IE undergoing surgery was 35.3%, 26.9%, and 9.1% for patients &lt;60 years, 60–75 years, and &gt;75 years, respectively. For patients with IE undergoing surgery, the in-hospital mortality was 6.4%, 13.6%, and 20.3% for patients &lt;60 years, 60–75 years, and ≥75 years of age, respectively and mortality at 90 days were 7.5%, 13.9%, and 22.3%, respectively. Factors associated with an increased risk 90-day mortality were: mitral valve surgery and a combination of mitral and aortic valve surgery as compared with isolated aortic valve surgery, patients 60–75 years and &gt;75 years as compared with patients aged &lt;60 years, prosthetic heart valve prior to IE admission, and diabetes, Figure. Patients &gt;75 years undergoing a combination of mitral and aortic valve surgery had an in-hospital mortality of 36.3%. Conclusion In patients undergoing surgery for IE, a stepwise increase in 90-day mortality was seen for age groups, highest among patients &gt;75 years with a 90-day mortality of more than 20%. Patients undergoing mitral and combined mitral and aortic valve surgery as compared to isolated aortic valve surgery were associated with a higher mortality. These findings may be of importance for the management strategy of patients with IE. Mortality risk Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

scholarly journals Surgical tracheostomy in a cohort of COVID-19 patients

HNO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick J. Schuler ◽  
Jens Greve ◽  
Thomas K. Hoffmann ◽  
Janina Hahn ◽  
Felix Boehm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Lung Compliance ◽  
Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure ◽  
Surgical Tracheostomy ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Open Surgical Tracheostomy ◽  
Sedative Drugs

Abstract Background One of the main symptoms of severe infection with the new coronavirus‑2 (SARS-CoV-2) is hypoxemic respiratory failure because of viral pneumonia with the need for mechanical ventilation. Prolonged mechanical ventilation may require a tracheostomy, but the increased risk for contamination is a matter of considerable debate. Objective Evaluation of safety and effects of surgical tracheostomy on ventilation parameters and outcome in patients with COVID-19. Study design Retrospective observational study between March 27 and May 18, 2020, in a single-center coronavirus disease-designated ICU at a tertiary care German hospital. Patients Patients with COVID-19 were treated with open surgical tracheostomy due to severe hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Measurements Clinical and ventilation data were obtained from medical records in a retrospective manner. Results A total of 18 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV‑2 infection and surgical tracheostomy were analyzed. The age range was 42–87 years. All patients received open tracheostomy between 2–16 days after admission. Ventilation after tracheostomy was less invasive (reduction in PEAK and positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP]) and lung compliance increased over time after tracheostomy. Also, sedative drugs could be reduced, and patients had a reduced need of norepinephrine to maintain hemodynamic stability. Six of 18 patients died. All surgical staff were equipped with N99-masks and facial shields or with powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR). Conclusion Our data suggest that open surgical tracheostomy can be performed without severe complications in patients with COVID-19. Tracheostomy may reduce invasiveness of mechanical ventilation and the need for sedative drugs and norepinehprine. Recommendations for personal protective equipment (PPE) for surgical staff should be followed when PPE is available to avoid contamination of the personnel.

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