Timing of elective tracheotomy and duration of mechanical ventilation among patients admitted to intensive care with severe COVID-19: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Optimal timing for tracheotomy for critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is not established. METHODS: Multicenter prospective cohort including all COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in 36 hospitals who required tracheotomy during first pandemic wave. With a target emulation trial framework, we studied the causal effects of early (7-10 days) versus late (>10 days) tracheotomy (LT) on time from tracheotomy to weaning, postoperative mortality, and tracheotomy complications. RESULTS: Of 696 patients, 20.4% received early tracheotomy (ET). ET was associated with faster weaning (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval, CI]: 1.25 [1.00-1.56]) without differences in mortality (HR [95% CI]: 0.85 [0.60-1.21]) or complications (adjusted rate ratio [95% CI]: 0.56 [0.23-1.33]). CONCLUSIONS: ET had a similar or lower post-tracheotomy weaning time than LT, potentially shortening IMV and ICU stays, without changing complication or mortality rates in COVID-19 patients.

Basiespinal Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak as a Complication After Adenoidectomy: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Adenoidectomy is one of the most common procedures in the field of pediatric otolaryngology. Postoperative bleeding is one of the most frequent complications (0.4%). In turn, cerebrospinal fluid fistula is a very uncommon but critical complication in this type of surgery. METHODS: We report the case of a 3-year-old patient who underwent adenoidectomy and presented a cerebrospinal fluid leak associated with pneumocephalus and meningitis. RESULTS: The solution provided was a suture in layers of the fistula tract, reinforced with basipharyngeal vascularized and rotation random flap of mucosa, and a free graft of muscle, through a transoral endoscopic approach. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebrospinal fluid leak as a complication after adenoidectomy is exceedingly rare. These pharyngospinal fistulae are determined by the anatomic features associated with intraoperative hemorrhagic complications, and it is essential that we take them into account when facing postoperative complications in the follow-up. The use of vascularized flaps based on the irrigation of the ascending pharyngeal artery with endoscopic techniques offers low-morbidity solutions, which are more efficient than traditional methods.