New perspectives on tracheal resection for COVID-19–related stenosis: A propensity score matching analysis

Cecilia Menna, Silvia Fiorelli, Beatrice Trabalza Marinucci, Domenico Massullo, Antonio D'Andrilli, Anna Maria Ciccone, Claudio Andreetti, Giulio Maurizi, Camilla Vanni, Alessandra Siciliani, Matteo Tiracorrendo, Massimiliano Mancini, Federico Venuta, Erino Angelo Rendina, Mohsen Ibrahim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The large number of patients with COVID-19 subjected to prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation has been expected to result in a significant increase in tracheal stenosis in the next years. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare postoperative outcomes of patients who survived COVID-19 critical illness and underwent tracheal resection for postintubation/posttracheostomy tracheal stenosis with those of non–COVID-19 patients. Methods: It was single-center, retrospective study. All consecutive patients with post-intubation/posttracheostomy tracheal stenosis who underwent tracheal resection from February 2020 to March 2022 were enrolled. A total of 147 tracheal resections were performed: 24 were in post–COVID-19 patients and 123 were in non–COVID-19 patients. A 1:1 propensity score matching analysis was performed, considering age, gender, body mass index, and length of stenosis. After matching, 2 groups of 24 patients each were identified: a post–COVID-19 group and a non–COVID group. Results: No mortality after surgery was registered. Posttracheostomy etiology of stenosis resulted more frequently in post–COVID-19 patients (n = 20 in the post–COVID-19 group vs n = 11 in the non–COVID-19 group; P = .03), as well as intensive care unit admissions during the postoperative period (16 vs 9 patients; P = .04). Need for postoperative reintubation for glottic edema and respiratory failure was higher in the post–COVID-19 group (7 vs 2 postoperative reintubation procedures; P = .04). Postoperative dysphonia was observed in 11 (46%) patients in the post–COVID-19 group versus 4 (16%) patients in the non–COVID-19 group (P = .03). Conclusions: Tracheal resection continues to be safe and effective in COVID-19–related tracheal stenosis scenarios. Intensive care unit admission rates and postoperative complications seem to be higher in post–COVID-19 patients who underwent tracheal resection compared with non–COVID-19 patients.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • tracheal stenosis
  • tracheal surgery

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