Covid-19 Tracheostomized patients in a terciary hospital: long-term voice, swallowing and airway outcomes

Authors

  • Mariana Oliveira Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal
  • Tiago Infante Velada Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal
  • Iulia Dorozhko Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal
  • Inês Alpoim Moreira Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal
  • Tiago Chantre Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal
  • Susana Correia Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal
  • Aníbal Eliseu Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal
  • Herédio Sousa Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.1030

Keywords:

COVID-19, Tracheostomy, Voice, Swallowing, Mechanical ventilation, Complications

Abstract

COVID-19 has led to an increase number of tracheotomized patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, whose consequences on voice, swallowing and high airway are poorly known in these patients. The objective of this project was to study them. The 37 COVID-19 patients, hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit, who had undergone tracheotomy and were subsequently decannulated, between March 2020 and November 2021, were considered. 14 of these patients were included and submitted to an interview, answering questionnaires. 8 of them underwent to endoscopic examination, too. The mean age was 49 years and the male:female ratio was 11:3. The mean time from intubation to tracheotomy was 24 days and 51 days to decannulation. 29% reported swallowing disorders, 14% voice disorders and 29% symptoms indicative of pharyngolaryngeal reflux. 62% of the endoscopies presented alterations. Preliminary results show a high incidence of laryngeal injury but long-term studies are needed, including in non-tracheotomized COVID-19 patients.

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Published

2022-12-18

How to Cite

Oliveira, M., Infante Velada, T., Dorozhko, I., Alpoim Moreira, I., Chantre, T., Correia, S., Eliseu, A., & Sousa, H. (2022). Covid-19 Tracheostomized patients in a terciary hospital: long-term voice, swallowing and airway outcomes. Portuguese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 60(4), 307–311. https://doi.org/10.34631/sporl.1030

Issue

Vol. 60 No. 4 (2022): December

Section

Original Article

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