Tracheostomies of Patients With COVID-19

^aAll percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question. Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100.
^bDetermined by χ² or Fisher exact test.
^cA complete list of respondents by countries of employment is listed in Supplemental Table 3.
^dMedian cumulative confirmed cases per million people based on country and date of survey response: 46 326 (range, 27–157 103).

Abbreviations: APP, advanced practice provider; HCP, health care professional; ICU, intensive care unit; NOS, not otherwise specified; PPE, personal protective equipment; RCP, respiratory care practitioner.
^aAll percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question. Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100.
^bDetermined by χ² or Fisher exact test.
^cOther types of health care professionals who responded to the survey included trainees, administrative health care workers, and those not otherwise specified.

Abbreviations: CAPR, controlled air-purifying respirator; ICU, intensive care unit; PAPR, powered air purifying respirator.
^aData from the 145 tracheostomy providers who were able to provide procedural details of the 179 total health care professionals involved in tracheostomies.
^bAll percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question. Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100.

Abbreviations: CT, computerized tomography scan; OR, operating room; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PPE, personal protective equipment.
^aRespondents were asked to self-designate their position from among the following choices with the option to select more than one choice: "Surgeon", "Anesthesiologist", "Physician, nonsurgeon/anesthesiologist", "Anesthetist, nonphysician", "Intensive care specialist", "Physician assistant or Nurse practitioner", "Nurse", "Technician", "Respiratory therapist", "Administration", "Trainee", "None of these apply". Those who selected "Surgeon", "Anesthesiologist", "Physician, nonsurgeon/anesthesiologist", and those who identified as a medical doctor in free text were grouped as "physicians". Those who indicated "Anesthetist, nonphysician", "Physician assistant or Nurse practitioner," "Intensive care specialist" (without specifying another selection), and those who identified as an advanced practice provider in free text were grouped as "APP or ICU Provider (NOS)" signifying "advanced practice provider or intensive care unit provider (not otherwise specified)". Those selecting "Nurse", "Technician", or "Respiratory therapist" and who identified as a type of nurse, therapist, or technician in free text were grouped as "Nurse, therapist, or technician". Finally, those selecting any other option not falling into one of the previous categories were identified as "Other."
^bThe identification of whether a respondent was a "tracheostomy provider" was made separately in response to the question "How many times have you performed or been involved in performing tracheostomies in COVID-19–positive patients?", with those responding any number more than 0 categorized as "tracheostomy providers."

^aHospitals, universities, and professional and nongovernmental organizations contacted by email for survey distribution.

^aAll percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question. Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100.

Abbreviations: NA, not applicable; PPE, personal protective equipment.
^aAll percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question. Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100.
^bNinety of the 361 total survey respondents reported a history of COVID-19 infection.
^cComparative analyses not performed given that factor does not apply to nontracheostomy providers.

^aAll percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question. Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100.
^bCalculated from χ² tests.

Abbreviations: APP, advanced practice provider; HCP, health care professional; ICU, intensive care unit; NOS, not otherwise specified; PPE, personal protective equipment; RCP, respiratory care practitioner.
^aAll percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question. Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100.
^bCountry was identified by 356 of 361 total participants.
^cA complete list of respondents by countries of employment is provided in Supplemental Table 3.
^dMedian cumulative confirmed cases per million people based on country and date of survey response: 46 326 (range, 27–157 103).
^eOther types of health care professionals who responded to the survey included trainees, administrative health care professionals, and those not otherwise specified.

Abbreviations: APP, advanced practice provider; HCP, health care professional; ICU, intensive care unit; NOS, not otherwise specified; PPE, personal protective equipment; RCP, respiratory care practitioner.
^aAll percentages are based on the number of respondents to each question. Because of rounding, percentages may not total 100.
^bA total of 145 tracheostomy providers of the 179 total health care providers involved in tracheostomies were able to provide procedural details.
^cA complete list respondents by countries of employment is listed in Supplemental Table 3.
^dMedian cumulative confirmed cases per million people based on country and date of survey response: 46 326 (range 27–157 103).
^eOther types of health care professionals who responded to the survey included trainees, administrative health care professionals, and those not otherwise specified.

^aOne hundred forty-five tracheostomy providers of the 179 total health care professionals involved in tracheostomies on COVID-19–positive patients were able to provide procedural details.

Authors and Disclosures

Constance S. Harrell Shreckengost, PhD, MD, Limeng Wan, MSPH, Alexandra W. Reitz, MD, MPH, Alice Lin, MPH, Rohan K. Dhamsania, MS, Julia Spychalski, J. Miller Douglas, Andrea Lane, Dina Amin, DDS, Steven Roser, DMD, MD, David Berkowitz, MD, Jorge Esteban Foianini, MD, Renée Moore, PhD, Jithin K. Sreedharan, MScRT, FiSqua, Abesh Niroula, MD, Randi Smith, MD, MPH and Onkar V. Khullar, MD MSc, PTS-COVIDTrach Collaborative

Constance S. Harrell Shreckengost is a resident physician, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Limeng Wan is a student, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Alexandra W. Reitz is a resident physician, Department of Surgery, Emory University. Alice Lin is a student, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Rohan K. Dhamsania is a student, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Suwanee, Georgia. Julia Spychalski is a student, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. J. Miller Douglas is a student, Department of Surgery and Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Andrea Lane is a student, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Dina Amin is an assistant professor, Department of Surgery, Emory University and a surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia. Steven Roser is a professor, Department of Surgery, Emory University and a surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia. David Berkowitz is a physician and professor, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University. Jorge Esteban Foianini is a surgeon, Department of Surgery, Clínica Foianini, Bolivia. Renée Moore is a professor, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. Jithin K. Sreedharan is general secretary, Indian Association of Respiratory Care, Kochi, India. Abesh Niroula is a physician, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University. Randi Smith is a surgeon, Department of Surgery, Emory University, a professor, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, and a surgeon, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Grady Memorial Hospital. Onkar V. Khullar is a surgeon, Department of Surgery, Emory University.

Corresponding author
Constance S. Harrell Shreckengost, Emory University Department of Surgery, 1364 Clifton Rd, NE, Ste B206, Atlanta, GA, USA 30322 (email: csharrell@gmail.com).