Open AccessTracheobronchial Slough, a Potential Pathology in Endotracheal Tube Obstruction in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Intensive Care Setting
Author(s) -
Jerry A. Rubano,
Patrick Jasinski,
Daniel N. Rutigliano,
Apostolos K. Tassiopoulos,
James E. Davis,
Tazeen Beg,
Shaji Poovathoor,
Sergio D. Bergese,
Sahar Ahmad,
Randeep S. Jawa,
James A. Vosswinkel,
Mark A. Talamini
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/sla.0000000000004031
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care unit , intensive care , mechanical ventilation , airway , ventilation (architecture) , intensivist , respiratory failure , emergency medicine , anesthesia , intensive care medicine , mechanical engineering , engineering
A novel coronavirus (COVID-19) erupted in the latter part of 2019. The virus, SARS-CoV-2 can cause a range of symptoms ranging from mild through fulminant respiratory failure. Approximately 25% of hospitalized patients require admission to the intensive care unit, with the majority of those requiring mechanical ventilation. High density consolidations in the bronchial tree and in the pulmonary parenchyma have been described in the advanced phase of the disease. We noted a subset of patients who had a sudden, significant increase in peak airway, plateau and peak inspiratory pressures. Partial or complete ETT occlusion was noted to be the culprit in the majority of these patients.