Quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non‐COVID patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract Objective(s) To analyze changes in tracheotomy practices at the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and determine if quality patient care was maintained. Methods This was a single institution retrospective study that included patients undergoing tracheotomy from May 2019 to January 2021. Patien...

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Main Authors: Jacqueline Tucker, Nicole Ruszkay, Neerav Goyal, John P. Gniady, David Goldenberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-10-01
Series:Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.885
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author Jacqueline Tucker
Nicole Ruszkay
Neerav Goyal
John P. Gniady
David Goldenberg
author_facet Jacqueline Tucker
Nicole Ruszkay
Neerav Goyal
John P. Gniady
David Goldenberg
author_sort Jacqueline Tucker
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective(s) To analyze changes in tracheotomy practices at the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and determine if quality patient care was maintained. Methods This was a single institution retrospective study that included patients undergoing tracheotomy from May 2019 to January 2021. Patients were divided into two groups, pre‐COVID and post‐COVID. Only three patients tested positive for COVID‐19, and they were excluded from the study. Data were collected from the electronic medical record. Statistical analyses were performed using 2‐tailed independent t tests, Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests, Chi‐Square tests, and Kaplan–Meier curves. Results There were 118 patients in the pre‐COVID group and 91 patients in the post‐COVID group. The main indication for tracheotomy in both groups was prolonged intubation. There were no significant differences in overall length of stay, time to tracheotomy, duration of tracheotomy procedure, or time to initial tracheotomy change between the two groups. Due to protocols implemented at our institution to limit viral transmission, there were significant increases in the percent of tracheotomies performed in the OR (p = .02), and those performed via open technique (p = .04). Additionally, the median time to decannulation significantly decreased in the post‐COVID group (p = .02). Conclusion Several variables regarding the timing of patient care showed no significant differences between groups which demonstrates that quality patient care was maintained. It is important to note that this data was collected early in the Pandemic, and additional trends may become apparent over time. Level of evidence 4.
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spelling doaj.art-f255b68ee54c431ab03475cc55236ae22022-12-22T02:24:00ZengWileyLaryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology2378-80382022-10-01751337134210.1002/lio2.885Quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non‐COVID patients during the COVID‐19 pandemicJacqueline Tucker0Nicole Ruszkay1Neerav Goyal2John P. Gniady3David Goldenberg4College of Medicine Pennsylvania State University Hershey Pennsylvania USADepartment of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Penn State Hershey Medical Center Hershey Pennsylvania USACollege of Medicine Pennsylvania State University Hershey Pennsylvania USACollege of Medicine Pennsylvania State University Hershey Pennsylvania USACollege of Medicine Pennsylvania State University Hershey Pennsylvania USAAbstract Objective(s) To analyze changes in tracheotomy practices at the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and determine if quality patient care was maintained. Methods This was a single institution retrospective study that included patients undergoing tracheotomy from May 2019 to January 2021. Patients were divided into two groups, pre‐COVID and post‐COVID. Only three patients tested positive for COVID‐19, and they were excluded from the study. Data were collected from the electronic medical record. Statistical analyses were performed using 2‐tailed independent t tests, Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests, Chi‐Square tests, and Kaplan–Meier curves. Results There were 118 patients in the pre‐COVID group and 91 patients in the post‐COVID group. The main indication for tracheotomy in both groups was prolonged intubation. There were no significant differences in overall length of stay, time to tracheotomy, duration of tracheotomy procedure, or time to initial tracheotomy change between the two groups. Due to protocols implemented at our institution to limit viral transmission, there were significant increases in the percent of tracheotomies performed in the OR (p = .02), and those performed via open technique (p = .04). Additionally, the median time to decannulation significantly decreased in the post‐COVID group (p = .02). Conclusion Several variables regarding the timing of patient care showed no significant differences between groups which demonstrates that quality patient care was maintained. It is important to note that this data was collected early in the Pandemic, and additional trends may become apparent over time. Level of evidence 4.https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.885airway reconstructionCOVID‐19decannulationoutcomestracheotomy
spellingShingle Jacqueline Tucker
Nicole Ruszkay
Neerav Goyal
John P. Gniady
David Goldenberg
Quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non‐COVID patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
airway reconstruction
COVID‐19
decannulation
outcomes
tracheotomy
title Quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non‐COVID patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_full Quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non‐COVID patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_fullStr Quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non‐COVID patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non‐COVID patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_short Quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non‐COVID patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic
title_sort quality tracheotomy care can be maintained for non covid patients during the covid 19 pandemic
topic airway reconstruction
COVID‐19
decannulation
outcomes
tracheotomy
url https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.885
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