Abstract
Rationale: Patients with an acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 may require tracheostomy and transfer to a weaning center. The objective of the study was 1) to determine the factors associated with time to decannulation and MRC gain, 2) to describe the outcome of these patients 3 months after admission to the weaning center.
Methods: Observational retrospective study of tracheotomized COVID-19 patients after prolonged ventilation and transferred in a weaning center from 2020 April the 4th to May the 30th.
Results: Forty-three patients were included. Median age (interquartile range) was 61 (48–66) years, 81% were men and body mass index (BMI) was 30 (26–35) kg.m-2. Tracheostomy was performed after 19 days of mechanical ventilation and the median length of stay in the intensive care unit was 30 days (21–46). On admission to the weaning center, the Medical Research Council (MRC) score was 36 (27–44). Time to decannulation was 9 (7–18) days after admission. The only factor independently associated with time to decannulation was the MRC score at admission to the weaning center (odds ratio [OR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.31, P=0.005). During weaning center stay, MRC gain was 10 (4–16). Two factors were independently associated with MRC gain ≥10: BMI (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.76–0.99, p=0.045) and MRC on admission (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.82–0.98, p=0.025). Three months after admission to the weaning center, 40 patients were weaned from mechanical ventilation and 36 (84%) were back home.
Conclusion: Three months after weaning center admission, a majority of COVID-19 patients were weaned of mechanical ventilation and back home.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3314.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021