Table 2.
Tracheostomy Procedural Details for COVID-19 Patients by Tracheostomy Timing
| Variable | Overall (n = 549)a | Early (n = 132)a | Late (n = 417)a | p b | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pandemic timeline | March–June 2020 | 234 (43%) | 39 (30%) | 195 (47%) | < 0.001 |
| July–September 2020 | 163 (30%) | 41 (31%) | 122 (29%) | ||
| October–December 2020 | 48 (9%) | 12 (9%) | 36 (9%) | ||
| January–March 2021 | 104 (19%) | 40 (30%) | 64 (15%) | ||
| Location | ICU | 449 (82%) | 98 (75%) | 351 (84%) | 0.005 |
| Operating room | 78 (14%) | 23 (17%) | 55 (13%) | ||
| Otherc | 22 (4%) | 11 (8%) | 11 (3%) | ||
| Technique | Percutaneous | 332 (61%) | 84 (65%) | 248 (60%) | 0.289 |
| Open | 211 (39%) | 45 (35%) | 166 (40%) | ||
| Missing | 6 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Bronchoscopy use | Bronchoscopy minimized | 222 (45%) | 43 (37%) | 179 (47%) | 0.052 |
| Standard bronchoscopy | 276 (55%) | 74 (63%) | 202 (53%) | ||
| Missing | 51 | 15 | 36 | ||
| Mechanical ventilation management | Ventilator pause | 405 (81%) | 85 (73%) | 320 (84%) | 0.006 |
| Standard ventilation | 93 (19%) | 32 (27%) | 61 (16%) | ||
| Missing | 51 | 15 | 36 | ||
| Electrocautery use | Electrocautery minimized | 328 (66%) | 66 (56%) | 262 (69%) | 0.014 |
| Standard electrocautery | 170 (34%) | 51 (44%) | 119 (31%) | ||
| Missing | 51 | 15 | 36 | ||
| Patient-provider barriers | Additional barriers used | 81 (16%) | 22 (19%) | 59 (15%) | 0.395 |
| Standard barriers | 417 (84%) | 95 (81%) | 322 (85%) | ||
| Missing | 51 | 15 | 36 | ||
| Aerosol-reduction techniques | Aerosol reduction used | 439 (88%) | 97 (83%) | 342 (90%) | 0.045 |
| Standard methods used | 59 (12%) | 20 (17%) | 39 (10%) | ||
| Missing | 51 | 15 | 36 | ||
| Periprocedural complications | None | 481 (92%) | 116 (93%) | 365 (91%) | 0.639 |
| ≥ 1 | 43 (8.2%) | 9 (7.2%) | 34 (8.5%) | ||
| Missing | 25 | 7 | 18 | ||
| 30-D airway-related complications | ≥ 1 | 21 (8%) | 9 (11%) | 12 (6%) | 0.130 |
| Missing | 272 | 53 | 219 | ||
| 30-d non-airway complications | ≥ 1 | 179 (65%) | 45 (57%) | 134 (68%) | 0.092 |
| Missing | 272 | 53 | 219 | ||
aData are shown as n (%) or median (range).
bPearson χ2 or Fisher exact test.
cTracheostomy performed in a location other than the ICU or operating room.
Bivariate analysis of tracheostomy procedural details for COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy within 14 d of intubation (“early”) vs “late” tracheostomy. Date of procedure, procedure location, and use of aerosol reduction methods, including pausing mechanical ventilation and minimizing electrocautery, differed according to tracheostomy timing (p < 0.050).