Nearly 4 weeks ago COVIDTrach, a multispecialty collaborative project on COVID-19 tracheostomies performed in the UK opened for data collection. The response from hospitals around the country has been excellent and with over 85 NHS trusts signed up and over 800 data sets submitted. We are hoping to have many more and would encourage any units not already signed up to please do so.
So far OMFS have contributed just 10% of the cases in the database, which we are sure under-represents that work that has been taking place.
By the 11th of May we had over 500 data entries and so the working group, with representation from all stakeholders, have produced an interim report for dissemination. The early data analysis suggests that tracheostomies have a role to play in the management of ventilated COVID-19 patients. Health care professionals involved in tracheostomies appear to have been protected with adequate levels of PPE, with no reported cases of transmission and infectivity. However we are conscious this is early data and these observations may change. The final report will aim to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the role of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients.
There will be important lessons about COVID tracheostomies so we need all of the surgical and percutaneous trachys from your hospitals to be added to the online link or via your REDCap log-in.
If you have any problems or queries, you can contact Fabien Puglia, QOMS project manager
Thanks and best wishes
Clare Schilling, BAOMS rep for COVIDTrach
Robert Bentley, BAOMS President
Message from Fabien Puglia, QOMS Project Manager: Please remember also to register as a REDCap user so you can enter, edit, view and download your data. For more information email REDCap and visit the BAOMS QOMS webpage