Outcomes of tracheostomies performed in COVID-19 positive patients at Hospital Central del Estado Chihuahua, Mexico.

Objective: Provide a description of clinical characteristics, associated factors and outcome of tracheostomies performed in COVID-19 patients.

Method: Observational prospective study of 14 patients who underwent tracheostomy. 10 of them were diagnosed with COVID 19, confirmed with RT-PCR test of nasopharyngeal exudate and compatible tomographic findings.

Results: Of the 10 patients, five were discharged and five died. The average age of patients who died was 66.6 years; of those who were discharged, it was 60.4 years. Ventilatory parameters cut was taken as FiO₂ ≤ 40% and PEEP ≤ 8; of the patients discharged, four met both criteria. On the other hand, of the patients who died, neither met both. Of the latter, an average of APACHE II of 16.4 and SOFA 7.4 were documented, while in discharged patients an average of 12.6 and 4.6 were observed, respectively.

Conclusions: Tracheostomy performed in patients with specific criteria, such as low ventilatory parameters, age, or low score in severity scales, may have a better prognosis.