Tracheal resection in patients post–COVID-19 is associated with high reintervention rate and early restenosisCentral MessagePerspective

Objectives: A remarkable increase in the number of patients presenting with tracheal complications after prolonged endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for the management of the severe COVID-19–associated respiratory failure has been observed. In this study, we assessed the postoperati...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Filippos-Paschalis Rorris, MD, Evangelia Chatzimichali, MD, Evangelia Liverakou, MD, Constantine N. Antonopoulos, MD, PhD, Evangelos Balis, MD, Constantinos Kotsifas, MD, Grigoris Stratakos, MD, PhD, Antonia Koutsoukou, MD, PhD, Charalampos Zisis, MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-04-01
Series:JTCVS Techniques
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666250723000093
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives: A remarkable increase in the number of patients presenting with tracheal complications after prolonged endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation for the management of the severe COVID-19–associated respiratory failure has been observed. In this study, we assessed the postoperative outcomes of tracheal resection in patients with COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in which all patients with a history of prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation due to COVID-19 infection, who were treated with tracheal resection and reconstruction, were included. The primary objective was in-hospital mortality and postoperative reintervention rate. The secondary objective was the time to tracheal restenosis. Results: During the 16-month study period, 11 patients with COVID-19 with tracheal complications underwent tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis. Mean patient age was 51.5 ± 9 years, and the majority were male (9 patients). Eight patients were referred for management of postintubation tracheal stenosis, and 3 patients were referred for tracheoesophageal fistula. Eight patients had a history of tracheostomy during the COVID-19 infection hospitalization. There was 1 in-hospital death (9.1%) due to septicemia in the intensive care unit approximately 2 months after the operation. Postoperatively, 32 reinterventions were required for tracheal restenosis due to granulation tissue formation. The risk for reintervention was higher during the first 3 months after the index operation. Four patients developed tracheal restenosis (36.4%), and 2 of them required endotracheal stent placement during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Tracheal resection and reconstruction after COVID-19 infection are associated with a high reintervention rate postoperatively. Such patients require close follow-up in expert interventional pulmonology units, and physicians should be on high alert for the early diagnosis and optimal management of tracheal restenosis. Video Abstract:
ISSN:2666-2507