A Comparison of Tracheotomy Results From Before The COVID-19 Pandemic and During The Pandemic

Aim: To compare patients applied with tracheotomy because of prolonged intubation before the COVID-19
pandemic and during the pandemic.
Patients and Methods: A retrospective examination was made of the records of 179 patients with a tracheotomy
opened following prolonged intubation in the Intensive Care Unit of Karaman Training and Research Hospital
between September 2018 and August 2021. The patients were separated into two groups as group 1 (n:80)
of patients with tracheotomy in the 18-month period before the COVID-19 pandemic (September 2018 –
February 2020) and group 2 (n:99) of patients with tracheotomy during the COVID-19 pandemic (March
2020-August 2021). The two groups were compared in respect of demographic characteristics, duration of
intubation, early and late complications associated with tracheotomy, and patient outcomes (exitus, discharge
to home, transfer to palliative and other wards).
Results: Group 1 comprised 45% females and 55% males and group 2 comprised 51% females and 49%
males, with no statistically significant difference determined between the groups in respect of gender. A
statistically significant difference was determined between the groups in respect of age and the duration
of intubation (p<0.05). Tracheotomy-related complications were not determined to be significantly different
between the groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The patients in this study with a tracheotomy opened during the COVID-19 pandemic were
observed to be younger than patients with tracheotomy applied before the pandemic. In addition, the duration
of intubation was determined to be longer during the pandemic t han in the pre-pandemic period.