TABLE 2.
Tracheostomy Procedural Data
| Time from intubation to tracheostomy, median (Q1–Q3), days | 22 (18–25) |
| Tracheostomy timing, N (%) | |
| Early (0–14 days) | 9 (7.6%) |
| Middle (15–21 days) | 48 (40.7%) |
| Late (>21 days) | 61 (51.7%) |
| Type of tracheostomy procedure, N (%) | |
| Percutaneous | 92 (78.0%) |
| Surgical or open | 26 (22.0%) |
| Procedural team, N (%) | |
| Interventional pulmonary | 72 (61.0%) |
| General surgery | 23 (19.5%) |
| Thoracic surgery | 8 (6.8%) |
| Otorhinolaryngology | 10 (8.5%) |
| Neurocritical care | 5 (4.2%) |
| Tracheostomy tube size, N (%) | |
| 6 | 35 (29.7%) |
| 7 | 4 (3.4%) |
| 7.5 | 1 (0.8%) |
| 8 | 77 (65.3%) |
| 8.5 | 1 (0.8%) |
| Paralytic used, N (%) | 118 (100%) |
| Ventilator pause, N (%) | 118 (100%) |
| Ultrasound use during tracheostomy, N (%) | |
| Yes | 56 (47.5%) |
| No | 62 (52.5%) |
| Bronchoscope, N (%) | |
| Disposable | 105 (89.0%) |
| Nondisposable | 13 (11.0%) |
| Personal protective equipment, N (%) | |
| PAPR | 70 (59.3%) |
| CAPR | 14 (11.8%) |
| N95 with face-shield | 54 (45.8%) |
| Caps | 118 (100%) |
| Gowns | 118 (100%) |
| Gloves | 118 (100%) |
| Location of procedure, N (%) | |
| Bedside | 113 (95.8%) |
| Operating room | 5 (4.2%) |
| Negative pressure room, N (%) | 117 (99.2%) |
| Medications when performing tracheostomy, N (%) | |
| Aspirin | 15 (12.7%) |
| Clopidogrel | 0 (0%) |
| Heparin | |
| Subcutaneous | 8 (6.8%) |
| Intravenous-held | 77 (90.6%) |
| Enoxaparin- held | 21 (18.4%) |
| Direct thrombin inhibitors-held | 12 (10.3%) |
| Vasopressors | 43 (36.4%) |
CPAR indicates controlled air-purifying respirator; PAPR, powered air-purifying respirator.
Direct thrombin inhibitors included bivalirudin and argatroban.