Bedside tracheostomy for a COVID-19 cohort

Abstract

The use of tracheostomy in ventilator dependent COVID-19 patients is novel because of the recent and rapid spread of this pandemic with risk of transmission of infection to healthcare workers. This case-series of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients indicates that percutaneous tracheostomy performed at bedside with careful precautions and limited modification of standard technique was effective in promoting weaning from mechanical ventilation with few complications and no transmission of COVID-19 infection to the procedural healthcare workers.