Abstract:

Purpose: In this study, we aimed at comparing patients with tracheotomy due to extended entubation during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19 pandemic period. Patients and Method: In this study, in the Karaman Education and Research Hospital’s intensive care unit, the records of 179 patients opened post-entubation tracheotomy that lasted between September 2018 and August 2021, were examined retrospectively. In the 18 months prior to COVID-19 pandemic period (September 2018 to February 2020) patients with tracheotomy were divided into two groups: group 1 (n:80) and group 2 (n:99) patients with tracheotomy during COVID-19 pandemic period (March 2020 to August 2021) and group 2 (n:99). The two groups were compared in terms of demographic characteristics, entubation times, early and late complications associated with tracheotomy, the final results of patients (exitus, home removal, palliative and transfer to other services). Results: 45% of patients in Group 1 were women and 55% men. 51 percent of patients in Group 2 were women and 49 percent were men. There are no statistical differences between the groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age and entubation periods (p<0.05). There was no statistically meaningful difference between the groups in terms of tracheotomy complications (p>0. and 05). The result: Our study found that patients with tracheotomy during the COVID-19 pandemic period were younger than those before the pandemic period. In the pandemic period, the entubation period was more long than in the pre-pandemic period.