Optimal timing of tracheostomy in patients on veno‐venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for coronavirus 2019: a case series

AIM: An early tracheostomy is often considered for patients with veno‐venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV‐ECMO). However, there is no consensus on the timing of a tracheostomy in patients on VV‐ECMO for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). The present report described the optimal timing of tracheostomy for these patients. METHOD: The present study was a single‐center case series. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of nine consecutive patients who underwent tracheostomy either during or after VV‐ECMO treatment in our center between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. RESULTS: All the patients received a percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy, which was performed during VV‐ECMO in four patients. Three of these patients experienced hemorrhagic complications, and the remaining patient required a circuit change on the day after the operation. Heparin was discontinued 8 h preoperatively and resumed 1–14 h later. The platelet count was below normal in two patients, but no transfusion was performed. APTT was almost normal, and D‐dimer was elevated postoperatively. The remaining five patients received a tracheostomy after weaning off VV‐ECMO, and no complication was observed. Eight patients were deeply sedated during VV‐ECMO to prioritize lung rest and prevent infecting the healthcare workers. CONCLUSION: In the present study, patients who underwent a tracheostomy during VV‐ECMO tended to have more hemorrhagic complications. Because an early tracheostomy during ECMO has little benefit for patients with COVID‐19, it should be performed after weaning off VV‐ECMO to protect the safety of the healthcare workers concerned.